The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-15
ship of the Deserr--Wh the
AFab Calls the Most Useful
of Beasts.

To carry men and merchandise across
the arid waste an animal was needed at
once speedy, untireing, sure footed and
capable OF subslStIng where vegetation
was scanty and water scarce; all these
qualifications are combined in the camel.
The pads of its spreading feet, divided
into TWO toes without being externally
separated, prevent its sinking in the
sand. oven which it moves so no.selessly
that it has been POLITICALLY and appro-
pr.ately termed the ship Of the des-
ert." The calIosities on the textures of
the limbs and chest, upon which the
animal rests or kneels to receive its
load, prevent the skin from cracking
from contact with the hot sand. The
n0striIs, closing at will, exclude the
burning grains when the simeon sweeps
across the desert. while the peculiar
contraction Of the stomach enables the
camel to 90 without water for several
days. He is as easily satisfied 10 tbc
way of eating, delighting in the tough
plants he passes on his march, which
his strong, nippers Ike teeth enable him
to masticate with comfort.
How many days the camel can 20
without drinking has never perhaps been
exactly a~scertained; in fact the power of
endurance varies greatly in different iu-
dvldual~, but it has been stated on very
good authority that the dromedary can
slb>.>t nine days without water. though
exposed the whole time to a heat re-
sembhng that Of a furnace. 1t is Ger
tain that when the camel does drink he
always appears To be laying in in a stock
for q week or 50 and has even been
known to swallow seven gallons and a
half at one time. This allows three
quarts a day for ten days which, though
not sufficient properly to quench the
thirst OF SO large an animal, may yet be
enough to keep him alive. Compare
tive anatomy. which has INDUCED in a
legion Of experiments on the structure
ot much Inferior animals, has not eX-
tended a proper degree OF attention to
the camel.
Il has, no doubt, been ascertained
that this extraordinary creature poss-
esses one stomach more than other
mammalia, but curiosity has not been
sufficiently busy with that immense
bladder. streaked with %sanguine veins.
which the animal sometimes blows out
oi It's mouth in spring. In strings of
thfly or forty | have noticed, during the
greatest heat Of the day, a majority
amusing themselves after this fashion.
On such occasions they viii raise their
heads, look around widely and then.
with d strange, offensive noise, draw
up the bag from their threats and blow
It out inflated to its fullest extent, as if
TO cool 1t by the touch Of the external
air. In a few minutes they would suffer
to thec collapse and suck it back with a
Tuckling noise into their threats. Is not
this bag intended to contain, in addition
to the fifth stomach, a supply of fresh
8tomachE And is 1t not in this that
travellers when compelled to kill their
aroInedaries to preserve their own lives
IN IHe Sahara, find the pure transparent
AuIu SPOKEN Of on such occasions?
II Is during a sandstorm, or on the APP
pg9acii OF the slmoom, that the camel dis
plays The most striking proofs of sagacity.