The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-17
THE Wild CAMEL.

An Interesting and Little known Animal
that W"aders over Central Asian Deserts.
As far back as the fifteenth century. writ
ers on Asia told OF vague rumors that wild
camels existed in the great Cobb wastes OF tho
central part OF the continent The existence
OF the wild camel. however. was never proven
to tho western world until within the past
fifty years. Ten or twelve years ago Con,
Prejevalsky brought back to tho museums OF
Russia number OF skins OF this animal 1t Is
found to abound in very considerable num-
bers In tho western part OF Chinese Turkestan,
and the fact that the world has known
SO little OF it Is due to the scare
lty OF white explorers In THAT region
until quite recently and to the wildness OF tho
animal. which renders it very difficult OF ap-
proach. During the expedition OF Mr.. Bonva-
lot and Prince Henry Of Orleans. tho adven-
turesome son Of tho Duke OF Chartres, in
1HS9-9U, Prince Henry collected in the region
OF Lob Nor quite number of facts with regard
TO- this interesting animal The question
whether tho wild camel is the parent stock OF
the domcsticated animal or whether. on the
contrary. he Is descendant OF the tame
camel is not yet settled and perhaps it never
will be. Instances have occurred In Spain
and quite recently in Guyana Of camels escap-
Ing from their masters md in the course Of
The natives at Lob Nor told Prince Henry
that wild cRmcls are found about six days to
the north Of Lob Lake. In tho summer thcy
go up into the mountains but thoy always re-
turn to the same places. there being certain
wander about the desert feeding on scanty
h-rbngo in troops Of fifteen or sixteen all OF
them females except one male VIII CHI becomes
tho undispmte! lord OF his haren after terrific
combats with other males. The females have
two young every three years, and tho ma.o
protects them until they are old enough to DO
wrancd and to depend upon what tho dcsort
affords Tor their fool
them. The only way in which they are hunt
ell Is to hide near II pond on whose brink trnces
OF wild camels have boon discovered. Then
when he AN mails come 20 drink. tina hunter,
men and blazcs away with his single. harreilr,l
gun. Unless he Is IL good shot he will lose his
prize. for he has no t!'ncto get a second shot.
and y the camel is only wounded It vii make
mover get near 1t again. While Prince. Henry
WAS mt Lob Nor three young mon who had
gone out to hunt wild camos returnod from
the r., chase; They had , sen great many gam:
tho skins IN into rectangular pincos ready to
be- worked in into their manufactures.
Tho hest season !or tho sport is In winter.
for nearly everywhere the water Is then frozen
over So that thn places whore the camcis come
to drink nre worry few and the hunter is rrett v
sure to find then. Tn natives hrliovr these
camels are not descended from domesticatcd
animals. our fathers and tradition" they
always wild. Morr'vor n doncsi irttod camel
cannot DO without man utf"ll"ws him. Every
domestic animal j. descended from wild ON as. "
full. 1t " very profitable The cnmels skin is
In great demand for boots and tho hnir makes
very good cloth. Only rich natives. however
can organize tn Asa hunting expeditions, as 1t
IL necessary to send several men out, to for
ward provisions {" hem. to furnish animals to
transport them. which sometimes die. and
altogether considerable risk is incurred.