The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-15

Before the human eye aan detect the
swiftly approaching column OF yellow Or
lurid gas which instantly strikes dead all
creatures that breath il, the camel dis
Germs the danger and, uttering a wild
roar, turns round and plunges his nose
into the sand, The traveller also, wuo
springs instantly to the earth, presses his
face against the face of the desert, tlght-
~ closes his lips protects his Dostrils with
both HANDS. What signs Of suffering or
agitation the poor drouedary exhibits
the traveller is to much terrified TO OBJ
serve, but ne himself experiences,
throughout his frame, first a quivering
shooting pain, then q numbness and par
aiysis of all the limbs aud vital functions,
which prolonged for many seconds would
be death. But the mysterious vapor,
which omc almost like lightning, IN the
same manner departs. In many cases
the sudden death Of the beast and his
rider reveals the fatal power Of the 81
moon; but when they escape with life
the process Of revlvIng from the stroke
resembles that experienced by patients
after = long illncss-langlor, feehleness.
prostration Of the whole system, giddi-
ness Of the head, dlmpess Of sight, \ par
tia .oss Of memory and a ~bowi.dcrIug Of
IDEAS. Foreigners flee to brandy As a
remedy, the Arabs to coffee, while the
camel, knecllng as # under a heavy bur
den, gro as, grunts and looks ~ructully
about up9u the waste.
The ambIe Of the camcl-a curious
amaigamatIon Of rolling and pitching
simultaneously eXecuted-wOuld scarcely
be eXtolied by any one accustomed to the
pleasant canter of a good horse, but 1t
has Its advantages. The rider may sit
Sideways. backwards OF in the orthodox
fashion, with his feet in or OUT Of the
srirrups. he may let his legs dangie care
lessiy or sit cross legged after the manner
Of Turks and ia lors, without any fear Of
his seat or equaGimity being disturbed
by the sure footed beast stumbling, kick
ing, shying or boiling A habit rather
perplex'ng to the inexperienced camel
rider IN the animal propensity for
snatching at dwarf a~cacias aud other
vegetable delicacies as he wanderS along.
But these slight drawbacks are fully com
pensated by the measured regularity with
which he moves, while the citation enables
the traveller to see all that Is to be seen
and gives him the benefit Of every vel
come breeze that blows.
Your trading camel exceeds a mule in
obstinacy when you attempt to break
through his ordinary habits. He will
then oppose to your will a passive resis
ance utterly uncomfortable; will lie DOWN
if he thinks you have put too much Oh
his back, and refuse to rise though you
should beat him to death. 70 show that
this is often a mere crotchet, the Arabs
remove two or three small packets from
the load, upon which the animal. no
doubt with an inward chuckIe ofsatistac
ton, at having gained the victory, gives
a loud grunt, and rises without perceiving
that during the operations the packages
have been restored. As, however, he be
lieyes his load to have been lightened he
trudges along merrliy, if so sullen a heart
can ever be said to be merry. But though
serious and gloomy. this patient creature
must not be supposed to be entirely with
out sentiment. When kindly treated,
when patted on the shoulder, when
gently spoken to, but more especially
when treated to a song, the dromedarY
will exhibit strong signs Of pleasure in
his prominent eye, will urn round his
long snake-lke Ueck, look al you stead
lastly, as if to express his thanks.