CAMEL (OF.. Lat. camelits, (1k, faitniXos, kanirlos, from Hob, al, came)). A large desert-dwelling ruminant of two species, •onsti tuting the typical geniis. Cainelus, of the family Camelida.. Both have been subjugated to man since prehistoric times, and neither is known or remembered in a wild state. The free camels which now roam in northern Turkestan, where they are hunted for their flesh, hides, and supe rior wool, are descendants of the few which sur vived the vast sand-storms which, about 1700, overwhelmed the villages on the Gobi plateau and killed all the people. The two species of camel are the true or Arabian camel (('aniflus dromcdarius), having one hump, and the Bac trian camel (('ame/us Boetrianus), with two humps. 'These humps are stores of flesh and fat, reabsorbed in support of the animal when over taken by famine, as is so likely to happen.
The former is the common and widespread spe cies, found from northwestern India and the low lands of Afghanistan down to the extremity of Arabia east of the Bed Sea and Somaliland to the south, and westward as far as the African deserts extend. They have also been introduced into .kustralia, Spain, Zanzibar, and the south western United States, but without permanent economic success. The United States GoVern ment spent much money and pains to acclimatize them as an army transport service in the dry southwestern regions, about 1857; the Civil War interrupted the arrangements, but the at tempts made by private hands to utilize the ani mals were not profitable. Alany were turned loose and remained wild along the Mexican bor der, hut multiplied little, and they are now supposed to be extinct. The British Government has made extensive use of them in its military operations in India and Upper Egypt, both as baggage animals, and in hauling artillery, and as mounts for a division of 'cavalry' known as the 'camel corps.' Consult Iaoichen. With the Camel Corps Cp the Nile, London. Ititis, wherein many interesting facts as to the habits and qualifica tions of the animal are given.
What country was the original home of this species is uncertain: it seems more thoroughly adapted to a sandy region than the Bactrian, and is presumed to have had a more southerly habitat than the latter, probably inhabiting Arabia and perhaps the Sahara when first enslaved by primi tive men. It is singularly adapted to subsist ence in the desert by the structural qualities else where mentioned (see CAlts.mo.u.), and by its ability to bite off and eonsmne the tough shrub bery and even thorny plants which alone grow there, and to endure the burning heat and (lying sand. To this end it has acquired ntA only the thick and broad sole-pads, but the Ohl.: callosi ties on the joints of the legs and on the chest upon which it rests I in a kneeling posture) when it lies down: moreover, the nostrils may be closed against the Hying dust, and the eyes are shaded and shielded by very long eyelashes. Its extremely acute sense of smell, especially for is another lifesaving provision. All these qualities have combined to render it so highly serviceable to man in the great wastes that sepa rate the habitable regions south and east of the 111cditerranean, Black, and Caspian seas, that it is safe to say these eould never have been colo nized and have been the scenes of (lie momentous incidents and impulses they have contributed to civilization had it not been for the assistance of this ungainly and unlovely creature. can speak from experience," remarks Captain Wellby ('rifixt Sirdar and llenelik, New York, 1001). "of this marvelous enduranee of eamels, for on a previous trip in Somaliland 1 once marched with a string of camels for eleven days, during which time 11011e of them had a drop [of water]."
The it:tali:in camel is better adapted, by its smaller size and heavier build, harder and more eloven feet, longer and finer wool, and other qual ities, to a rocky and cooler region, and its home is central Asia, front northern Turkestan to Alon golia. Its endurance is equally remarkable, under different circumstances, with that of its for it withstands the awful climate of the Tibetan plateau, where the tem rises to 140 F. in summer and sinks to Arctic cold in winter; it tramps with burdens of tea or hauling wagons or sledges over the plains, and often through wintry snows, from Peking to Lake Baikal, and carries heavy loads over the lofty passes of the Hindu Kush, and across the flinty plains of Afghanistan, and theme to Per sia. It is this ability to endure climatic ex tremes, variety of fare, and famine, which has perpetuated the camel through a longer generic history than that of almost any other animal, and has made it of so much service to mankind in regions unendurable by most cattle or horses, The Arabian camel carries twice the load of a mule. The Bactrian camel is sometimes loaded with 1000 or even 1500 pounds weight, although not generally with so much. A caravan some times contains 1000, sometimes even -1000 or 5000 camels. The supply of food carried with the caravan for the use of the camels is very scanty; a few beans, dates, carob-pods, or the like, are all that they receive after a day's march, when there is no herbage on which they may browse. The pace of the loaded camel is steady and uniform, but slow—about miles per hour. Sonic of the slight d n3111111:1 nit'S. however, can carry a rider more than 100 miles in a day. The motion of the camel is peculiar, jolting the rider in a manner extremely disagreeable to those who are unaccustomed to it ; both the feet on the same side being successively raised. so that. one side is thrown forward. and then the other.
The patience of the eunuch lies been celebrated by sonic authors, but this is mainly indifference and stupidity. It submits beeause it knows no better, cares nothing for its master. is influenced to a very slight degree by either kindness or harshness, is unhappy when alone, and always untrustworthy; is cowardly. and. at the rutting season, is subject to sudden and violent tits of rage, when it uses its teeth with terrible effect.
The camel produces only one young one at it time, lir rarely two. It. lives thirty or forty years. During the long ages it has been subject ed (the word `dinnestieated' hardly applies) to man. almost as many breeds have been created as in the ease of the rose, and there is a vast differ ence between those bred as baggage animals and those reared for the saddle; the latter, light and swift. often capable of traversing 100 miles of desert a day, are 'dromedaries,' whether one humped or two-bumped.
The great value of the canal to the desert peo ple is due to its manifold usefulness, for besides its utility as a carrier of both man and his bu• den, and as a means of trade, its flesh is good food. and the milk is excellent; from the hair, (loth, ropes, me., are made: the hide is SerViCV able ; the hones (in eastern Asia I serve as ivory: 1u11 the dung is in some regimis ;111110,t the sole dependence of the nomads for fuel. The animal is nevertheless steadily decreasing in im portance by the advance of railways. the opening of wagon roads, and other supersessions of its service, even in the remoter parts of its arid domain. See Plate of Cx.mn.s AND LLA.MAS.