Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-12-01
SHIP OF THE DESERT.
An Animal Indispensable and High.
ly Honored.
Created Especially For the Ocean II Ira.
Versss-lts Tonnage Variable In
India, Arabia. Persia
and Egypt.

sthere exists no grander showing of
creature designed for unique sur
roundingS. Ships are made to order.
man having discovered by degrees
what were the needs of navigation;
but the ship of the desert was con-
/ structed before man. in the wise antici-
/ patton of the needs the ages were to
I develop. And whereas the bark Of the
! tinual improvements, a we NAV mark
by simply referring to pictures and
models of the revered Mayfiower and
her predecessors, in which the great
GenoeSe explorer (in whose debt We
are) and Left. the Norseman. son OF
Eric the Red. made the same goal-not
TO speak of the initial sailor That cast
anchor at last upon Ararat-the camel.
this right beast in the right place, was
perfected at the very starting point of
time, without any experimenting.
The horse and OK. with all their
strength and usefulness under favor
able conditions. would shortly leave
their bones bleaching on the arid wastes
if put in the camel's place, and man.
his dependent. would die also. where
never sepulchre is raised to mortal re-
membrance. But here comes natures
volunteer. and says to those who do
business on great sands: Send me-"
Let us examine his quail tications.
First. his feet. They are spreading
pads divided into wide toes. encased in
the skin As in stocking. This oper-
ates on the principle of snow-shoes.
preventing the animal from sinking in
the yielding sand. CalloSitieS on the
flcxures of limbs and chest save the
SIX n from cracking by contact with the
heated sands when he lies down or
kneel> to receive his lading.
HIS nostrils he can close as
easily as his eyelidS; thus is he provis-
ioned against the deadly simeon. He
carries an internal reservoir for seven
or e ght gallons of water, which he
will deal out to himself at the rate of
three quarts day should circumstances
require. while exposed To heat resem-
bling that in which the Three W Worthless
were tried. Sometimes. alas. to keep
himself from perishing of thirst. his
owner is compelled to kill the beast for
the sake of his tile store of liquid.
As regards food, his natural nippers Of
teeth clip and masticate 10 his satisfy
ing relish the tough plants that con-
tend for existence along the desert
route; his habit of taking bite from
every dwarf acacia and its kind occas-
iona ne many surprises of tw sting and
jolt ne 10 the unaccustomed rider The
amble of a camel is a mixed rolling and
pitch ng which is apt to be i'll llappreci-
ated by riders not TO the manner born.
When the simeon. or virulent sand
storm. approaches, it is the camel that
warns the master HIS keen sagacity
detects the danger before any sign is
visible to man. and with a distressed
roar he wheels away from the swift
which to breathe is death. and plunges
his head into the sands. In all haste
the traveller throws himself on the
ground face downward, with closed
mouth, and hands covering his nostrls.
Many times even these precautions
fail. and this proves the end of life's
journey for man and beast. At the
best, after experiencing shooting pains
and the symptoms of paralysis, the
man breathes again, the mysterious
deadly vapor having passed in few
seconds. leaving. however. its lingering
effects in weakened limbs. dimmed Wis
ion and disordered memory. The
strong man of the minute before is re-.
duced to the condition of one just con-
after languishing i'll
ness. The Arab makes coffee his |
refuge, the foreigner seeks a remedy in
the stronger eau de rie. As to the poor
camel. his dOleful, imploring looks turn
to all directions, while he groans his
to Nature, his kneeling pos
ture adding to the impressiveness of
the scene.
There is no kicking, no stumbling. |
no shying or boiling in the ingredients
that 60 to the makeup of a camel.
Noted for patience, he can not have
praise for cheerfulness and courage.
His is rather a serious and melancholy |
nature. What if we thus account for
his lack of recuperative powerP In
general sick or injured camel might |
- well be a dead one. If he gets q
pold in wet weather. or q strain from
slipping on sloppy ground, he does not
snake an effort but succumbs. as if |
it were the proper thing to do. 1t fol- !
lows that as an eXemplar to the lord of
the fowl and the brute he has his limita- |
tions. Go to the dromedary. thou slug |
gard and malcontent, but if thou art |
wanting in pluck and will power-don' |
He is not of the stuff that .faith-cure'
could leaven.
While his social instincts are dull. he |
Is not entirely devoid of sentiment. !
When patted and kindly sESken to the |
camel manifests pleasure, and to listen !
to singing is to him an aesthetic feast |
Give HIM a song on the weary way, |
and his eyes will dilate. their mournful
expression changing to one approach
ing animation as he prospects afar over |
bhe dormant landscape; he will turn |
back his slim. ungainly neck to view |
with pride and gratitude truly unspeak- !
able his rider lounging among cushions
within the square wooden frame with |
its pair of tall pommels. settled upon
his accommodating hump. What |
but could afford to store |
up music in his soul, even as the dumb |
beast lays in supply of water, to be
dispensed on the journey?
In India the ship of the desert, like
the worlds vessels of oak and iron,
has fixed tonnage. Three hundred
and thirty pounds, says the Govern
ment to you, is the limit; thus far you
may lade your beast and no farther. In
Arabia the load is greater by from
thirty to sixty pounds; in Persia it is
nearly doubled; in Egypt the average
Is eight hundred pounds and it is even
stated that q Turcoman camel will
carry fifteen hundred ponpds-and here