The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-05-28

gloomy, this patient creature must not
be supposed to be entirely without SEN
timent. When kindly treated, when
patted on the shoulder, when gently
spoken to, but more especially when
treated to song, the dromedary viii
exhibit strong signs of pleasure in his
prominenteye, will turn round his long
snake-like neck, look at you stead
fastly, as if to express his thanks, and
then gaze forth upon the outspread
desert more proudly than before.
The load for camel in India is fixed
by the Government at $50 pounds; in
Arabia it varies from $50 to 400 pounds;
in Persia from 500 to 600 pounds; in
Egypt it averages 800 pounds, while,
according to TaVernier, the Turconlan
camels will carry as much as 1880
pounds weight. Where the road is toll
erably good the burden eamels of a car
ayan are tied to each other, the
moose rope of one being fastened to the
the tail of another, and SO they march
on, three to ten in a string, in single
file, and such creatures of routine are
they that camel will refuse to proceed
if the camel before him is changed for
another. In Egypt caravans move
abreast, and one of fifty camels will
show front for a mile in extent. The
pilgrim caravan pursues its route prin-
cipally during the night, lighted on its
way with torches. 1t has been shorn OF
much of its splendor in modern times.
Bagdad's celebrated ruler per-
formed the pilgrimage to the Proph-
cts shrine no less than nine times,
with a caravan of 10000 eamels, 900
of that enormous number being en-
ployed in carrying Haroun's wardrobe.
The Sultan of Egypt was accompanied
by 500 camels laden with sweetmeats,
and 280 bearing pomegranates and
other fruits. Every year the Sultan of
Turkey sends mahmal-a beautiful
Towering for the shrine of Mohammed-
to Mecca The camel honored by being
chosen for carpet bearer is magnificently
adorned with ribbons, lace, feathers
and initiative gems. When Hasselquist
saw the procession start from Cairo in
1850 this favored beast carried pyra-
midaI pavilion six feet high, covered
with green silk, under which the NAH
NAL was supposed to lie; but, like Other
great officials, the carpet camel did his
work by deputy, the precious gift being
actually carried by some of his less
fortunate brethren. As a reward fol
mot doing it, the MAMMAL camel be
comes exempt from all labor for the
rest of his life, which is passed in {
lodging provided for his special use
and he has servants to wait upon him
and due provision made for his susten
ance.
The camel has served other purpose
than those of commerce and religion
be has been pressed into the service 0
warlike sovereigns, and employed no
only to carry the luggage of theil
armies, but to draw scythed chariot.
and to. carry bowmen and swordsmen
The legions of Xerxes suffered by thei
camels being carried away by lions il
the night, and Cyrus defeated Cr9su
! by craftily taking advantage of the an
, tipathy the horse bears to the camel
, He mounted some of his soldiers Of
camels, and ordered them to charge tn
famous Lydian light horse. Th
, chargers of the latter, rendered ungoy
!, ernable by fear, fed from the field, an
, with them the hopes of the wealthiest c
monarchs. The time IS possibly nc
far distant when the camel will b
r superseded by the great iron horse bu
: as long as the Arab finds in him use
3 full servant, meat. drink, clothing an
/ fuel, we need not wonder at the faith {
, the true believer, who expects to find
: white-winged camel awaiting him as h
steps out of his sepulchre to convey HI
, soul to paradise. Brooklyn Eagle. @