The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-03
WILD cAMELs IN CENTRAL ASIA.
Dr. Sven Hcdin Sees . Large Number of
Them In Dcsolate Mountain Regions.

The second letter which DIR. Sven Hedin
has written to the King Of Sweden on hi'
new explorations in Chinese Turkestan
tells OF wild camels which he met In sterile
mountain regions In the northern border
of the Cobb Desert. He says that for twelve
days his party had not found q drop Of
water in their march northward, and their
plight would nave been very serious had
they not come across water by following a
camel path. Near the watering place the
wild camel began TO DO seen in large herds.
During his journey over the desert he
had noted on his route map all the old camel
tracks he saw. with the idea that he might
draw interesting conclusions from this
material "a TO the habits and wanderings
OF the animals. When nj last the existence
OF his camp was threatened by the want
of water he determined 10 follow a wide
camel track, into which footprints merged
in all directions. As the explorer sur
missed, this track led to a spring where the
animals went for water. Thus the wild
camel helped to preserve his party from
extremity of suffering through thirst.
On DIR. Hedin's journey he killed several
wild caniels and preserved the skin and
skeleton of a large male. 1t was not 80
very long ago that the existence Of this
animal was denied, The more recent ex-
plorers OF Central Asia however, have found
the wild camel in the regions where DR..
Hedin met IL. TO which 1t seems to be
confined. IL may be worth while TO tell
what has been discovered about this in
teresting and little known animal.
As far back as the fifteenth century,
writer's on Asia told OF vague rumors that
wild camels existed In the great Cobb
wastes OF the central part Of the
continent. It's existence, however.
was never proved to the western
world until within the past fifty years.
About twenty years ago Gen. Prejevalsky
brought back to the museums Of Russia
a number OF skins Of the animal. II Is
found to abound in very considerable num-
beers In the western part Of Chinese Turkes-
TAM, and the fact hat the world has known
30 little Of II is due To the scarcity of White
explorers in that region until quite re-
Gently and to the wildness OF the animal
which renders it very difficult of approach.
During the expedition Of Mr.. Bonvalot
and the late Prince Henry Of Orleans In
Iss9-0O, Prince Henry collected in the region
Of Lob Nor quite a number OF facts with
regard to the animal. The question whether
this wild camel IL the parent stock of the
domesticated animal or whether, on the
contrary, he is a descendant Of the tame
camel, IL not yet settled, and perhaps II
never will be. Instances have occurred
in Spain and quite recently In Guiana of
camels escaping from their masters and in
the course OF years becoming very wild.
The ma tives of lob Nor old Prince Henry
that wild camels are found about six days
to the north Of Lob Lake. In the summer
they go up into the mountains, but they
always return TO the. same places. there
being certain districts To which they are
accustomed. Prince Henry said that thev
wander about the desert feeding on scaIty
heritage In troops Of fifteen or sixteen.
all of them females except one male, which
becomes the undisputed lord OF his harem
after terrific combats with other males.
The females have two young every three
years, the male protecting them until they
are old enough TO depend upon what the
desert affords for their food.
IL Is usually very %fatiguing and difficult
to get neal them. The only way In which
they are hunted il TO hide near a pond on
whose brink traces OF wild cantels have
been discovered. Then when the animals
come 10 drink the hunter concealed In the
reeds picks out a good specimen and blazes
away with a sin~gle-barrel gun. Unless
he is a good shot he will lose his prize. for
he has no time 10 get n second shot. "
the camel IL only wounded IL will make
on with it, companions and the hunter
will never get near II again. While Prince
Henry was nj Lob Nor three young men
who had gone out Ia hunt wild camels
returned from the chase. They had seen
q great many camels but had killed only two.
They had cut the skins up into rectangular
pieces ready 10 he worked up into their
manufactures.
The hest season for the sport IL in winter,
for nearly everywhere the water - then
frozen over so that the places whore the
camels come TO drink are very few and
the hunter j. pretty sure "a tnd them.
The natives believe these camels arr not
descended from domestioated animals.
Our fathers and tradition" they say,
represent them as always Wild. More
over. n dOmosticated camel cannot do with
out man. but follows him. Every domestic
animal l. Descended from Wild ones"
When the chase for wild camels l. -uc
c,~sful II il very profitable. The native
turn the carels' skim into boots and make
very good Goth from the hair Only rich
natives. however. are able To organic
these hunting expeditions, a. IL IL n"c-'s-
20 send several men ou' I'M" the wilds,
10 forward provisions to them, 10 furnish
for their transportation animals. which
often die oN luR 10 prlNAtlOu= on the march d