Page:Monthly scrap book, for October.pdf/3

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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.