Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-07-11
~AMERICAN-BORN CAMEL.
Geological Notwithstanding
About the "Desert Ships"

Baby camels are a decided novelty
in this part of the world, and little
Mecca, who was born a few weeks ago
in Madison Square garden, has re-
ceived no end of attention, says the
New York Tribune. To be sure, only
a favored few have been allowed to
snatch unsatisfactory glances through
the curtain into the pen where he and
his mother have been secluded from
public view, but almost every visitor
to the cages has made anxious in
quiries regarding his health. The
little fellow has the appearance of a
very much misshaped calf, and for
actual beauty his neck is far too long,
his head too small, his legs out of all
proportion to the rest of his body, and
his back peculiarly irregular. But in
the eyes of his mother baby Mecca is
as lovely as most infants to their
mothers, and she bestows upon him
all the usual evidences of maternal af-
lection. The baby's humps are not
very visible; in about a year, how
ever, they will begin to appear, and
will straighten and become firm. If
the humps are large and firm the camel
is in his prime and in excellent health.
If, on the contrary, they fall over, as
in the case of old Levi, one of the cir
Gus herd, something is wrong-it may
be lack of food, old age or sickness.
An Arab never sets out on a pilgrim
age or in a arava with his camel in
such condition.
Coming from a dry, hot country,
where he is forced to traverse the
sands of the desert and subsist for
days without water and sometimes
food, the camel is physically adapted
to these conditions. His toes are fur
nished with soft, wide cushions, which
present a broad surface to the shift
ing sands and make it possible for
him to keep a firm hold upon them.
Thick, calloused pads protect the
knees of the animal from injury while
kneeling for loading or unloading, and
enable him to support not only his
WI weight, but very heavy burdens.
Because in his native land, water is
scarce, the camel has a fifth stomach,
or reservoir, where he can carry a suf-
fcient quantity TO last for many days.
Young camels who hare never suf-
fered the pangs of thirst are apt to
start on caravan trips with a smaller
supply than the older ones, who have
learned wisdom by experience. In
deed, some very old camels will carry
a large quantity of water. By an ac-
ton of the muscles the water is made
to reascend to the mouth, either to
quench the thirst or dilute the food.
The camel's mouth is furnished
with a strong lining, and if compelled
to do so he can subsist on the drv
thorns found scattered sparsely
through h desert, which no other an
ima1 could masticate without injury to
tongue and throat. In fact, when all
else has failed the camel. it is said.
has been known to resort to wood for
nourishment. The humps are com
posed of adipose or fatty tissue, and
when deprived of food the camel alb
serbs nourishment from them. Fit
ted thus by nature for life in an arid
country, and possessing, as he does,
great strength, it is not remarkable
that he is the chosen burden bearer for
merchandise of all kinds in his native
land, and hat he has won the title.
ship of the desert" An ordinary
camel a carry a load weighing from
1000 to 1900 pounds. IF. hwever, he
is overloaded, he will make no effort to
rise, but will utter his remonstrances
in p~laintive cries until the weight is re-
duced.
Many people confuse the drome-
dairy and camel, but the real camel has
two humps, while the ~dromedary has
only one. The latter is smaller and
not so strong.