Page:Suakin, 1885.djvu/65

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this unnecessarily cruel, and though it is a check on refractory animals, I see no reason why an ordinary running nose-band should not be amply sufficient. Some of our camels were vicious, but not many of them; a few were kickers. The bite of a camel is very severe, and their kick, even with their soft feet, is quite sufficient to break a man's leg. When you see a camel open his mouth and give vent to a loud gurgling sound, a large red-coloured inflated bag as big as a good-sized melon appearing at the same time from his throat, my advice would be, to those who are strangers to camels, to stand off! A well-bred camel may be known by the fineness of his coat and the smallness of his hind feet.

The camels from India came accompanied by native drivers, and a certain number of transport officers from the Indian Transport Staff. These drivers were a mixed lot, and for the most part understood their business well. They worked well enough under officers who could speak to them in good round Hindustani, but one would have to be a linguist indeed to speak to each different class of drivers in his own language. There were among them natives from all parts of India—Punjabees, Sidiboys,