THE REINDEER, THE HORSE, AND THE CAMEL,

AS EXAMPLES OF DOCILITY.

III. THE CAMEL.

WHILE the north has its examples of docility in the reindeer, and the temperate regions of the earth have the same example in the horse, there is still another pattern of docility quite as remarkable as either of these, in the patient and enduring camel, the inhabitant of sandy and sultry wastes, where there are no cool shades, nor refreshing water-courses, but wide and trackless deserts, scorched by the rays of a burning sun. The natural dwelling places of the camel are, Arabia, the north of Africa, Persia, Southern Tartary, and parts of India; and throughout this large portion of the earth, this animal forms the true riches of the people, and the link by which they are connected with nations dwelling beyond those sultry plains. To the wandering Arab, who dwells in the desert, the services of camels are exceedingly valuable. The poet Collins makes his camel-driver thus address them :

Mute companions of my toils, that bear

In all my griefs a more than equal share,
Here, where no springs in murmurs break away,
Or moss-grown fountains mitigate the day,
In vain ye hope the green delights to know

Which plains more blessed, or verdant vales, bestow;
Here rocks alone, or tasteless sands, are found,
And faint and sickly winds for ever howl around.

The history of the camel can be traced to the earliest ages, and this animal seems to have been, in distant times, as at present, the great means of traversing the desert lands of the East. The earliest mention of the camel in the Scriptures, is in the twelfth chapter of Genesis, where Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is said to have bestowed upon Abram, sheep, oxen, he-asses, men - servants, maid - servants, she-asses and camels. In the twenty-fourth chapter of the same book, the camel is frequently mentioned, and it would appear, that Abraham possessed a considerable herd of these animals. His servant, when setting out for Mesopotamia, to seek a wife for his master's son, "took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed ;" and when he drew nigh the end of his journey, "he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water." Here it was that Rebekah came to draw water; and when the servant asked of her to drink, and she complied with his request, she added, "I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking." A most laborious task this must have been; and it is interesting to notice, throughout this chapter, the care and consideration evidently bestowed upon these valuable beasts. When Rebekah's brother came out to meet the servant, and to offer the hospitality of his father's house, he said, "I have prepared the house, and room for the camels," saying which he led the man into the house, and "ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels;" after which he provided for the comfort of the servant, and the men

that were with him. That camels were employed to bear merchandise by those engaged in commerce, is shown in a later chapter, where the brethren of Joseph are said to have sold their brother to a company of Ishmaelites who ". came from Gilead with their camels, bearing spicery, balm, and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt." Not only the Hebrews, but the nations surrounding them, became in after times very rich in camels. When the Midianites encamped against Israel, "like grasshoppers for multitude," both they and their camels were without number. The Hagarites, too, were possessed of such immense herds, that the Reubenites took from them in war fifty thousand, with sheep and asses. It appears to have been a custom among the Hebrews, when they went to battle, to adorn their camels with studs and ornaments of gold. “And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks."

The above will be sufficient to show that the camel was in use in very ancient times, and we may now, therefore, consider some of those habits and qualities of the animal which make it so serviceable to man.

The camel seems pointed out for man's use by the power it has of bearing hardships, and of carrying heavy burdens. It is, in the larger breeds, about seven feet high. The legs are long and slender, the body large, and much drawn in at the flanks. The neck is long and bent; the eyes are large and mild in their expression; the lips project, but are thin