CAMEL.
Jamal, Gamal, . . ARAB. Camello, . . . IT., Sr. Chameau, . . . FR. Camelus, . . . LAT.
Kameel, . . . GER. Unta , MALAY.
Karnelos, . . . GR. Ottagam, . . TAM.
Oont, HIND. Loti-pitta, Wonte, TEL.
Camels are mentioned in 1 Kings iv. 28, Esther viii. 10, and Isaiah lx. 6 ; and they are still largely used as beasts of burden, or to carry messages, and for war purposes, in Egypt and in all the countries in the south of Asia, from Syria up to the Burmese countries and China. There are two kinds, that with hump, and another with two humps. The species employed on the European steppes through which the Don and Volga flow to their respective seas, are the two humped ; and Lieutenant Irwin distinguishes two varieties of two-humped camels. Beyond the Jaxartes, he remarks, is the two-humped species, in the Turki language called uzhri, and by British writers Bactrian. His height is far less than an Indian camel, his hair longer ; he is not capable of bearing severe heat, and is not easily natur alized even at Bokhara. In Khokan he is the prevalent species. The camel called Baghdadi has also two humps, but his height is equal to that of the Indian. He is found chiefly in the south-west of Khorasan, yet even there is much outnumbered by the Indian species, meaning, we presume, the one-humped, camel of Turkestan.
In Arabia there are three varieties of one-hump camels. The largest and clumsiest, called khowas, arc used to carry heavy burdens at the slow and measured pace of a largo caravan ; the second, called deloul, or saddle camels, are selected when young from the former, and are employed in journeys, singly, or with light caravans consisting of similar animals; the third bears the name of bap) in Arabia, malierry in Africa, hurkary in S. Asia, and is the dromedary of the Hebrew Scriptures. It is lightly formed, and of a very pale brown, approaching a cream colour. Being well trained, its speed with a man on its back and no baggage is between eight and nine miles per hour, and it can accomplish at the utmost 70 miles in 24 hours for two or three days in succes sion. Wellsted tells us (i. 292) that Nejd is equally the nursery of the camel as of the horse ; but the camel of Oman in all ages has been cele brated in the songs of the Arabs as the fleetest. Their legs are more slender and straight, and their eyes more prominent and sparkling. The single
hump of the camel of Arabia is round and fleshy whilst the animal continues in good condition, but wastes away when out of condition. Wellsted had known £28 paid for one in Oman ; but £6 to £10 is their average price. Depth of chest and largeness of barrel constitute their chief points of excellency. A camel of Hejaz can carry from 250 to 500 lbs. ; and an ordinary burden camel can walk about 2} miles an hour, making daily a march of 20 or 30 miles. M. Fontaine mentions an instance of au Arab on his camel taking and returning with a message from Coscir to Canneh, a distance of 225 miles, in 28 hours, at the rate of 8 miles an hour continually, which seems incredible. Colonel Chesney mentions that be crossed from Basrah to Damascus, 958i miles, in 19 days, or daily 50 miles. Nizatn-ud-Din Ahmad, author of the Tabakat-i-Akbari, while Bakshi of Gujerat, was summoned to Lahore by the emperor (A.R. 998) A.D. 1589-90. The Wakiat-i-Mnstakhi says that he took with him a party on camels, and that they accomplished the journey of 600 kos (1200 miles) in twelve days, for which the king bestowed honours on him. General Ferrier tells us that the camels from Turkestan and the country of the Hazara are exceedingly large and strong, but not very active. Those from the Seistan are slenderly formed and wiry, but, though small, are as hardy an animal as can be found, and incredibly swift ; they will travel 25 leagues in a day without feeling fatigue, and are never affected by the great heat of the sun. These are generally used for .riding, and those of Turkestan as beasts of burden. The Bokhara camel and the two-bumped Kirgliis camel are only surpassed in strength and swiftness by the Arab, and especially the camel of the Hejaz. Besides the Bactrian camel, the Turko mans have a mule breed between this and the Arabian animal, with a hump which can neither be called single nor double, though more near the latter than the former. This is a large, useful, and highly-prized animal, capable of transporting from 1000 to 1200 lbs. with ease; but the creature is short-lived, and the Arabs do not breed from it, giving as a reason that the progeny are intract able and bad-tempered.