Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-12-10

more than the ass chooses thistles as q
delicacy, but people talk of the cactus
as cancels food just as we do of thistles
for asses.
Its general food. however, is a mix
ture of bran with the refuse Of olives
out Of which the oil has been extracted.
This is spread out for 1t on mat. d.
rectly 1t sees It's dinner being brought,
it exhibits great excitement, emitting
strange, soft, nasal sound, something
between a growl, and n very loud purr.
1t kneels down very deliberately, bring
ing down the forelegs first and after
wards the hind legs, and burrows its
nose into the mat.
camel is never in a hurry, even for
Its meals, and each mouthfrA is chewed
over and over again, even though goats
and kids and fowls may all be poach.
ing on the provision. WhesS5-sa, socially
hard work is required. a Samcl l. ciron
ration of barley and Aatestones
Camels are said to Re the most do,,,o
animals imaginable. 1t is true that
when they arg walking the streets tbay
shrink from contact with any ono nns,
will swervef aside If they meet eyen :
small enid or puppy. But this is on.
tirely on their own account, fcr -,,,.y
have u dread of being touched, except
by their drivers. They do not even like
to be stroked. As they stalk about
with their noses high in air, and their
big, astonished eyes looking round
superciliously, they seem to say that
they are ready to carry big burdens and
go without food or drink, but that they
will tolerate no familiarities.
The pack-camel travels very slowly,
to the motion to be able to doze on its
back. you are constantly tempted to get
off and walk. II you want speed, you
must buy a racing camel. This seems
to belong to different creation. 1t is
much taller, more alert, and more in.
telligent. 1t can accomplish $50 miles
in sixteen hours without undue effort,
and, in the matter of price, compares
with the pack camel as the thorough.
bred does with the cab horse.
S AT the present day camels are used
for all sorts of domestic purposes in
Africa. They may even be seen draw.
Ing plows in tue in eiiies OF the Regency
of Tunis. You may remark ,taYoman
and a camel harnessed to * the same
plow, and you hesitate TO decide which
Is the greater outrage. They are also
used for drawing water from the
strange, cumbersome, old-fashioned
wells of North Africa.
Their chief use, however, is for cara
vans. You may behold them bringing
in huge cases of dates from the cases,
or you may see them with great tent
like structures of red silk upon their
backs. These tents are for the convey
ance of Arab women of the upper class.
es, who seek to maintain the privacy
of the harem on journey. Two women
and some children are often accommo.
dated on one camel. They have cush
ions on which they can lie down and
even sleep. 1t is stuffy, and 1t is dark,
but they deem themselves well off in
escaping from the searching rays of the
burning sun.
1t is strange sight to watch the ar.
rival of caravan from distance. 1t
resembles a long snake, growing ever
bigger and biggersas 1t draws near. It
always proceeds in the same order:
first, the camels with huge packs of
wool or esparto on each side of their
backs; then a cavalcade of little, thin,
wiry donkeys, scarcely bigger than
large Newfoundland dogs. also very
heavily laden, sometimes having stout
man perched on their backs in addition
to their own weight In merchandise;
then crowds of men on foot, carrying
nothing but long guns slung across
their shoulders; and, lastly, herd of
half-ragged women, grooming under
prodigious weights, and carrying their
children in a Kind or sack behind them.
A camel's age may be told by its teetk
with certainty up to eight years or even
twelve. From fifteen to twenty 1t Is
old and well past its prime. Then it is
often killed and eaten, just as horse
is in France.-Herbert Vivian, in Pear
sons Magazine.
Walking-Stick Industry.
The growing of walking sticks is a