All about animalsFacts, stories and anecdotes . hifting sand. Its toes are wide apart and well padded beneath, so that ithas a firm foot-hold. It has always been the custom to load the camel kneel-ing, hence it has developed a hard, leathery surface over its knees, whichserve as a protection against sore places being formed. The camel has beencredited with greater speed than it really has. There is one species calledthe heirie, which can trot at the rate of ten miles an hour and keep it upfrom sunrise to sunset, but the common camels stride is seven feet, andtaking them on the average of thirt
All about animalsFacts, stories and anecdotes . hifting sand. Its toes are wide apart and well padded beneath, so that ithas a firm foot-hold. It has always been the custom to load the camel kneel-ing, hence it has developed a hard, leathery surface over its knees, whichserve as a protection against sore places being formed. The camel has beencredited with greater speed than it really has. There is one species calledthe heirie, which can trot at the rate of ten miles an hour and keep it upfrom sunrise to sunset, but the common camels stride is seven feet, andtaking them on the average of thirty-six to the minute makes its speed aboutthree miles an hour. It would be hard to find a creature with a more morose and ugly disposi-tion. It is great fun to watch a camel being loaded, for its temper is worstatthis time. The Arab comes in front of his beast, taking care to keep out of theway of its teeth, and coaxes and begs the animal to get down on its knees. Ifthis has no effect, he gets a big stick and whacks and pokes it until it CAMELS. THE BACTRIAN CAMEL. He must tie it down by the muzzle or it will rise the minute his back isturned. Then the patient Arab piles his boxes on top of a saddle and strapsthem there, while the camel keeps up a gurgling and grunting, all the timetrying to bite its masters legs. When the loading is finished, the camel risesto its feet. If it is in an extra bad temper, it will buck the load off its back. The camel lives to a great age, and in some parts of the world is held ingreat veneration. Sometimes a white camel is born. These animals are alwaysvery highly prized. The dervish warrior, the Madhi of the Soudan, rode upona white camel. The beast is said to have been a magnificent specimen, beinglarger than any of the commoner species. It was afterward killed in the deserts they take the place of regular cavalry. THE BACTRIAN CAMEL.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidallabo, booksubjectanimals
