Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-12-01
We see how naturally the last feather

We see how naturally the last feather
might break the caIners back.
Much of this difference Is attribute
Die to the quality of roads. Where
the route is passably good the laden
beasts proceed in single file, the halter
OF one being tied to the tail of the next
IN advance, and so on TO the end of the
hne OF three to ten. This nose halter
OF twisted hair serves for bit and
pride. 1t would appear to be from
the force OF routine, and not from any
such attachment as hOlSes form for
Their mates, that camel will refuse to
proceed II the one next in 'front.' of him
is changed. Egyptian caravans travel
abreast, and many present a front of a
mile, or of miles. Night travel is pre-
ferred for its greater GOODNESS, when
the way is lighted by torches. the scene
presenting weird picturesqueness
whose description would seem TO be-
long to the pages of the ARABIAN
Nights. Ten hours is an ordinary
march, but sometimes a caravan is in
continuous motion for whole twenty
four hours. The rate of travel is only
about two miles an hour, which might
tax the patience of men accustomed to
the speed of the horse; though the
dromedary. when put to the task, can
accomplish as much as seventy miles .
day for two or three successive davs.
Haroun-al- Raschid (Aaron the Just).
who tiourished during the last half of
the eighth century, performed no less
than nine piigrimages from Bagdad to
the City of the Prophet, with no less
than hundred and twenty thousand
camels, nine hundred of the number
being employed in conveying the
Caliph's wardrobe. which we may well
believe would have shamed the lilies
of the field, had there been any on the
way. making them hide their array at
the roots of the timothy. The Egyp-
tian sovereignty of a century ago made
many a march with about thou
sand animals laden with sweet
meats. pomegranates, and other
fruits for the European mar
ket. In modern times much of the
glory of the caravan has departed. as
its torches pale when night fees away
and they are met by the level shafts of
the rising sun. No long time hence
,ii' nun hVlN' =" III athN al iHo
plains of the Orient and bid the ship of
the desert stand by. 1t does not fol-
low that the native beast will be gen.
orally superseded. any more than the
horse has been by the same imperious
presence in Europe and America Ho
will be spared some of his most
fatiguing duties. but will remain a use
full and eminently interesting feature
of Oriental life.
Yearly still the Turkish Sultan makes /
him the bearer of a splendid covering
for the shrine of Mohammed at Mecca I
The camel selected as chief of the con- !
voy bears high silken pavilion. and is 7
gaily bedecked with ribbons, laces and .
initiated gems; and from that time he /
is exempted from labor. and furnished .
with handsome lodging and servants
to attend to all his wants. The really !
curious point. and one from which q
sermon might be preached. is that the 1
mammal. or carpet, is merely imagined ,
to be with n his pavilion. but. in fact. ,
is made the burden of his unhonored |
fellows.
All in all. meat, drink, clothing,
fuel. conveyance has the Mohammedan
found in his camel. and his eye of faith
sees white-winged camel awaiting his
resurrection at the last day. to bear
him to paradise. Let us hope that the
sacred camel of the Beyond will be less
than the show-white ele-
phant from far Siam. whose fitting re-
frain when he blows his won trumpet
might be-..Farce | am. '.-Lauinia s.
Go0d,cin. in Current