Year: 1868

! Algeria. Here their services have been in
valuable, both by reason of their endurance
and their speed. One of them is especially
swift and strong, and is said to have once, on
an emergency, travelled over the trackless
deserts of that region two hundred and fifty
miles in thirty hours Since their arrival in
the Champ de Mars, some discussion has
naturally arisen in regard to the comparative
| fieetness of these animals, and it was finally
decided to test the question. far as practi-
cable, by trial in the Bois de Boulogne
This took place at ten in the morning and
was certainly as piquant and amusing a spec
tacle as anything | have seen in Paris, even
in the present abundance of novel and ex-
citing displays. The ground selected was
near the Barricre de Passy, and the point ex-
tended from that point to the edge of the lake,
from which it returned in an irregular curve
to the gateway where it began. The course
distorted oval Of about one kilometer.
five eighths of an English mile, in length


When | reached the spot assigned for the
meeting, which was on the shore of the lake
at It's nearest approach to the grand drive
that leads around it, the prospect was ex-
tremely gay The water glittered in the sum-


while mimic waves, excited by the morning
breeze, were cast ashore upon the beach of
the island. The tasteful kiosk at the head of
the latter, which forms so attractive an ele-
ment in the views of the Bois stood out in
bright relief against the sombre evergreens
behind 1T. At its base the cascade fell tumul-
tuOusly over the rocks covered with ivy and
woedbine, on which it stands Bevond was
the elegant bridge, partly concealed with
creepers and climbing plants, that connects
the islands. Around us were beds of scarlet
geraniums and blue lobelia in profusion
while to the left was the broad sloping lawn
along the edge of which the camels were TO
run. This was here and there dotted with
clumps OF rare trees, among which was a fine
specimen of our gigantic California pine al
ready growing vigorously, and evidently tax
ing kindly to its new habiiat. Dotting the
avenue in each direction were numbers of
spectators, more than could have been ex-
pected at that early hour, mostly horsemen
taking their morning ride. Many of them
were superbly mounted. and as the animals
they rode danced TO and fro. their we'll
groomed sides reflected all the colors of the
rainbow. The drOmedaries were crOuched in
pairs in a couple of little groves at the side
OF the road However much the behOlders
might feel interested in the result of the race
they-that is the camels-did not exert their
amour propre TO the extent of caring in the
least which OF them won. They were evi-
IDENTIFY half frightened and half ugly and
craned their necks in every direction while
they cast sinister glances from under their
shaggy and half-closed eyebrows One of
them was in state either of great terror or
terocity,-l could not quite decide which. -
and from the depths of his inner conscious
ness and wonderful hydraulic apparatus pro
duced groans. lamentations, and whimper-
ings that would have moved heart of stone


He appeared to have a separate pain in each
of his four 5tomachs. Their long and awk-
ward hind legs, as they squatted on the turf.
We're twisted together in a complication of
tpf1T | sol -
Algerians were at least third larger and
heavier than their competitors and partly
covered with hair. This hung here and
there in loose masses, and their bodies We're
deeply SCARED with the girths Of their sad
dies. The Egyptians were of slighter build,
with no hair ,sand apparently more docile
in temper. Once in while, when they
were approached too closely. or were offended
at anything, the former distendcd their Jaws
with a kissing sound, and from the bottom of
their throats elected their saliva at the object
OF their annoyance. in a stream Of several
feet long. When doing this +hey opened
/ their ewes and Looked nxedly at the keeper,
or whoever it might be, probably to see if
they had killed him. They had all, with one
exception, rings in their noses, and were
guided partly by these, partly by goading
and punching with a long lance. At stroke
from the latter on the left side Of the neck
they knet down, while blow on the right
compelled them to rise.


And now came the moment OF departure,
and their keepers, first indorsing themselves.
forced them TO get up. The Arabs were
clothed in turbans and robes Of white, Grim
son, and blue, and evidently felt very great
interest in the result Tnn~c not on the
dromedarics ran to and fro. gestculated with
vehemencc, and iabbered their outlandish
dialect in manner that seemed really dis
-. l. l.
their awkward way, crowned first with their
high-peaked saddles, and finally with the
tawny sons of the desert who drove them, the
effect very picturesque ; upon the horses
it was more than that, for their artistic tastes
being i'll developed. they knew not what Il
make of it 1t greatly interesting Il
watch these intelligent and spirited creatures
as the camels, before hidden by the crowd
that surrounded them, gradually emerged
till they lowered above every thing, and slowly
walked forth Some ut once stood erect on
their hind legs and danced to and fro with
excitement some stretched out their nccke
and bent down their nccks with faces ex-
pressing the deepest curiosity ; others put
their nostrils to those of their neghbors. and
snorting at intervals, appeared to be carry
ing on a sort of wondering conversation. 1t
had been arranged that the trial should take
place in two races one of each species being
pitted against the other in both. The signal
was given. .and away shot the 1.-THE and dingy
Egyptian with the impetus of a rocket. His
gait was clumsy and shambling, and he threw
out his fiat spongy feet on each side like q
great polypus. The Algerian, however, was
evidently confused by the novelty of his stu
alton, and it was entirely impossible to make
him understand what they wanted him to do


No goading could make him start, and when
his driver pulled the ring in his nostrils, il
only twisted his long gutta-percha neck, till
his nose rested upon the front of the saddle
in helpless and ungainly stupidity. Finally


performing no less than four pirouettes, he
shot off at tangent into the crowd of horses
and carriage, the right. w lid was the
confusion, and terrible the excitement. Al
this the Algerian keepers, loosing the slight
modicum of patience that remained to them


pushed forward and rained perfect shower
of blows upon the beast, thus finally forcing
him into the track. At length he started


but with a sort of determined Obstinacy thai
had plainly resolved not to win the race, i


this result could be avoided. His movement
was heavy and slow, and reminded me o
those old four-hOrse coaches in which English
noblemen used to go up to London in th'
days of Charles the Second His expression
was that of an animal deeply wronged, bu


bent on availing itself of the earliest oppor


tunity for revenge.


His rival had long before this disappearet
around the first sharp bend in the track


amid the cheers of the crowd, which slowl,
(, changed to jeers, as they travelled toward
+bo Soapa Of his own refro ovro tionS