Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
SOLDIERS WITH CAMELS.
How They Use this Ungain-
ly Animal in Egypt.
A Curious Feature of the Expedition
to General Gordon's Relief

Among the curious features of the
British military expedition which is
now slowly proceeding up the river
Nile, for the relief of Gordon at Khar.
toum, is camel corps. 1t is composed
ofseveral thousands of ungainly camels,
each carrying trooper. This body of
men and stalking animals is said to
present an extraordinary spectacle, es-
pecially when in motion.
The uniform of the camel corps con-
sists Of a red flannel tun1c, corduroy
knee breaches, and serge leggings, with
white pith helmet covered by white
cloth. The accouterments are heavy,
and include a rolled cloak on the right
shoulder, a leather cartridge belt on
the left shoulder, tin mess trap, q
water bottle, a brown leather ammuni-
ton bagdoleer, with fifty rounds of
ammunition, and a rifle pocket in
which the butt of the rifle is support
ed. The arms are the Martini Henry
rifle and bayonet, instead of the ordi-
nary cavalry carbine. Each camel
also carries the second half Of tent,
with pole and guides, besides three
days provisions and water for his
master, and food for himself.
These tents afford cover for two men
each; waterproof sheet forms the
floor, and on the pole of the tent hangs
leathern water bottle with filtered
water, while outside on tripod is
Slung skin containing well or Nile
water for ordinary purposes. One end
of the tent is closed by laced curtain,
which can be shifted to either end for
protection against sand storms.
A good load for a camel is about 600
pounds, though for short journeys it
can carry 1000 pounds; its speed is
seldom more than three miles an hour,
and the swiftest dromedaries do not
exceed ten; but the former rate of
travel can be kept up for twenty hours
without rest. The hump on its back
affords practically storehouse for
food, as it is slowly reabsorbed during
long marches. Its first stomach or
pouch has division (Which may be
closed by muscular action whose walls
are provided with system of large
cells capable of considerable dstention,
which the animal can fill with several
quarts of water, and thus carry with
its own wants for about week, a sup
ply which it occasionally yields with
its life to save that of it's master. Its
strength, power of endurance, ability
to subsist on the coarsest food. to 20
without water, and to travel over the
yielding sand, have earned for it the
title of the "ship of the desert" The
business of this cognomen is strongly
attested by the British soldiers, one of
whom writes that he never felt more
at sea- than when first taking a camel
ride, the motion producing such sensa-
tions as most people feel at sea in
rough weather, the peculiar swinging
and jerking gait jolting up the unin-
itiated in way anything but pleasing.
The height of the Arabian camel at
the shoulder is between six and seven
feet, and the color of the rather coarse
hair is of various shades of brown.
The first attempt to mount one calls
for no little dexterity, as the usual
mode is to bestride the animal while he
Is en- his knees, and it is no easy mat
ter for a novice to maintain the correct
"center Of gravity" when the animal
rises. The British soldiers, however,
seem to have entered this novel service
with considerable enthusiasm, and have
been disposed to make pets of their
new companions, although they report
that thus far it seems to be most
'unsocial beast. "-Scientif american.