Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-12-06
SHIP OF THE DESERT.
An Animal Indispensable and High
ly Honored.
Created Especially For the Ocean It Tra-
verses-lts Tonnage Variable In
India, Arabin, PersiA
and Egypt.

What the sea would be without ships
the desert would be without that pc
culiar animal the camel. In all the
range OF natural history. abounding as
it does with wondrous adaptat ons,
there exists no grander showing of
n creature designed for unique sur
round ngs. 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
develop. And whereas the bark of the
willowy main has been subject to con-
tinual improvements. as we may mark
by simply referring to pictures and
models of the rerered Mal flower and
her predecessors. in which the great
Genorse explorer Gn whose debt We
are) and Left. the Norseman. son of
Eric the Red, made the same goal-not
10 speak OF the initial sailor that cast
anchor at last upon Ararst-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 ar q wastes
If put in the camels place. and man,
his dependent. would die also. where
never sepulchre is raised to mortal re-
membrance But here comes natures
volunteer. and says 70 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 a stocking THIS oper-
ates on the principle of snow-shoes.
preventing the animal from sinking in
the Welding sand. CallOsitles on the
fexures of limbs and chest save the
SIX in from cracking by contact with the
heated sands when he lies down or
kneelS TO receive his lading.
His noStrils he can close as
easily rs his eyelidS; thus is be provis-
ioned against the deadly simeon. He
carries an Internal reservoir for seven
or eight gallons of water. which he
will deal out TO himself at the rate of
three quarts a day should circumstances
reGnire. while exposed to heat resem-
bling that in which the Three 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-
ioning many surprises of tw sting and
jolting to the unaccustomed rider The
amble Of a camel is 4 mixed rolling and
pitching which IS apt TO be i'll appreci-
ated BY riders not TO the manner born.
When the SIMEON, or virulent sand
storm. approaches. It is the camel that
warns the master Ii s keen sagacity
detects the danger before any sign is
visible to man. and with a distressed
roar he wheels away from the swift
coming current of yellow or lur gas,
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 nos.rIs
MANY times even these precautions
fail and this proyes the end of Ife's
journey for man and beast. At the
hest after .xperiencinc sboo,ing nsin.
and the symptoms of paralysis. the
man breathes again, the mysterious
deadly vapor having passed in a few
seconds. leaving. however. its lingering
effects in weakened limbs. dimmed vis- /
ion and disordered memory The
strong man of the m mute before is re-
duced to the condition of one just con- |
yalescing after a langushing IL /
ness. The Arab makes coffee his
refuge, the foreigner seeks a remedy in ,
the stronger eau de ne As to the poor
camel. his doleful imploring looks turn
to all directions. while he groans his /
complaints to Nature his kneeling pos /
ture adding to the impress!veness of
the scene.
There is no kicking, no stumbling.
no shying or boiling in the ingredients
that GO to the makeup of a camel.
Noted for patience. he can not have
praise for cheerfuness and courage.
His is rather serious and melancholy
nature. What if we thus account for
bis lack of recuperative power? In
general sick OF injured camel m ght
q well be dead one. II he gets
aold in wet weather. or a strain from