rtures to the most acute organs of smell, by which they
can even ascertain that water is near; those callous pads enable them to
kneel when they are to be laden, or mounted, and those ugly humps are
provisions of fat, which supply them with nourishment, if, during their
long journeys, there is a scarcity of provisions. One of their most
invaluable properties is the length of time which they can go without
drinking, owing to the large secretion of water in their honeycomb
stomach, while in times of intolerable privation, they may be killed,
and so save their masters from starvation.

The camel has two humps, the dromedary one; the last is the lightest and
the swiftest, and is generally chosen for riding, while the former
carries the burdens. High saddles are placed on their backs; and it
requires either to be used to them, or to be particularly careful not to
be half killed at starting. The rider places himself in the saddle while
the animals are kneeling; and, when they raise their hind legs, which
they do first of all, they send the unprepared traveller forwards, and
his breath is almost taken out of him by the blow which he receives upon
his chest; then as they get upon their fore legs they throw him back,
so as to endanger his spine. Their pace is at first very disagreeable,
being so long and slouching; but, generally speaking, they are extremely
docile and affectionate; they, however, will not stir if they think they
are overloaded, and if they are made angry, they are furious, especially
against each other, quarreling much more frequently with their own
species than they do with man. Their owners are always very careful to
see that their humps are in good condition before they set off on a
journey, and some varieties are preferred to others on account of their
being able to bear a longer period of drought. They are generally
decorated with bells, the sounds of which, in their desert journeys, are
said to be very agreeable to them. If once they fall from fatigue or
sickness they seldom rise again; but, as a whole party, particularly
when every day's provision of water is measured, cannot be stopped for
one, they are left alone to die; their eyes following the masters who
are obliged to abandon them, and whom they have served so faithfully;
the vultures, already hovering over them, ready to pick their bones as
soon as they have sent forth their last breath. Their spine, when again
found, is often raised upon a pole, a