THE
MONTHLY SCRAP BOOK.
THE CAMEL;
A STORY OF THE DESERT.
The extraordinary scent of the camel enables him ⟨to⟩ discover water at a great distance; and thus, ⟨in⟩ the wildest regions of the desert, the caravan is ⟨often⟩ preserved from destruction by this instinct. ⟨In⟩ the neighbourhood of wells, such as are found ⟨in⟩ the Hadj routes, the camels, after passing rocky ⟨districts⟩, that fatigue them more than several days' ⟨march⟩ upon the plains, surfeit themselves with water. This renders them still weaker, and they ⟨often⟩ perish. Camels' carcases are as frequently ⟨found⟩ and in the accustomed roads as in the deserts; ⟨and⟩ when the pilgrimage leaves Mecca, the very ⟨way⟩ is corrupt with the bodies of camels that have ⟨died⟩ of exhaustion after performing the journey. ⟨On⟩ the road, when a camel falls, he is usually ⟨felled⟩ according to the Mahometan fashion, which ⟨is⟩ to turn his head towards Mecca, and cut his ⟨throat⟩. On such occasions the Arabs wait in ⟨savage⟩ impatience the signal of the owner, ready ⟨to⟩ plunge their knives into the poor animal, and ⟨tear⟩ off a portion of the flesh. At seasons of great ⟨privation⟩, the water which is found in the cells of ⟨the⟩ camel's stomach is eagerly swallowed by ⟨the⟩ Arabs.
