The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-08-27

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UNLIKE other ships. this one begins
BY being very feeble and helpless lit
tie craft, indeed For the first week
after its launch on the great sea of life
it requires much careful watching on
the part of the owners.
Strange as it may sound. in very
truth baby camel j. every whit A.
helpless as human baby Ii cannot
stand alone: without help il cannot 80
much rs take its own food even: while
its long neck j. At first 50 flexible and
fragile. that unless some one were con-
s.antly at hand to watch. the poor lit
tie creature would run every risk Of
dislccating il.
Those who have closely observed
camel nature tell us il is never known
10 play or frolic like lambs or colts. or
like most young creatures Of the earth.
in fact; but that. in its babyhood, il is
as grave and melancholy as in its old
age. born apparently with deep sense
Of its own ugliness. and mournful
resignation 70 long and jcyless
career.
When il has reached its third year.
the hump-backed animal is counted old
enough TO begin its life of labor The
trainers then take il in hand. They
teach it 10 kneel and bear bur-
dens. which gradually they make
heavier and heavier. until their charge
is supposed TO have 10 come to the
full strength Of camel maturity. This
Is not until il Is about eight years old.
II the camel can rise with the load on
its back. this is proof positive that he
can carry il throughout the journey. al
though it sometimes happens. i the
journey be only a very short one. the
patient beast Is loaded so heavily that
il must be helped ontoits feet by means
Of bars and levers. In some places
camels cry out against this excessive
loading in most piteous and distress
ing manner-the cry resembling that Of
a very young child in pain. and being a
most dismal sound TO hear; bur in other
parts Of the world they will bear their
burden. however heavy. without com
planning.
An ordinary camers load Is from
seven to eight hundred pounds With
this weight on their backs, train Of
camels will cross thirty miles Of desert
during day. Those used to carry dis
patches. having only the light weight
Of the dispatch-bearer. Of course are ex-
pected TO travel much faster. however.
and will easily accomplish two hundred
and forty miles in the same length Of
time
Ungainly. awkward. repulsive-look-
ing as these creatures are, with their
great projecting harelips and their
hairy humps. they have the compensa-
10 all those who dwell in tents In
the vast sandy plains Of Egypt. Arabia
and Tartary.
Their stomachs are so formed BY Ma
ture that they are capable of being con-
verted into set of water tanks. q num-
Der Of small cells filed with the purest
water being fastened to the sides Of
each. and when all food fails. ii makes
little difference To camel or dromedary
at least for time.
Their humps are composed Of fatty
substance. Day by day the hump AZ
minishes. and the fat Is absorbed into
the animals system. furnishing nourish-
ment until food is forthcoming.
Thus. with these stores Of water and
fuel on board. the ship can 20 on
for fortnight. or even month. abso-
lutely without eating or drinking. while
things that other creaturcs-unless.
perhaps. il be some bird Of the ostrich
tribe-would never dream Of touching.
will furnish forth a sumptuous meal for
a camel. Ola handful Of thorns and
briers he can make an excellent break
fast. and believe he will not disdain
ANYTHING apparently 50 attempting as
a BIT Of dry wood.
Provided that nj certain periods Of
the year q short holiday il allowed the
camel for pasturing. quite At its leisure.
70 recruit its strength and ill that
store-house on its back with fuel, It will
serve its master. on such meager fare a
! have mentioned. for full fifty years.
still. All work and no play il as bad for
camcls As Il is for boys.
Even with plenty u fuel on board. the
AUuorf