Page:Mount Seir, Sinai and Western Palestine.djvu/58

34 (Citrullus colocynthus), with its long sprays and trefoil leaves spreading over the ground, of the freshest of green tints; the fruit, about the size of a small orange, was in various stages, some green, others banded with yellowish tints. This fruit is acrid to the taste, and only used medicinally by the Arabs.

During this long day's march, as at other times, I had ample opportunities of studying the manners and powers of the camel, and I may offer a few observations thereon in this place. The animal I bestrode was the tallest of the party, and his name was "Ashgar." He was a steady going old gentleman, and served me faithfully till we parted at Akabah. But I feel sure he was incapable of attachment, except to his own driver, and that we parted from each other without regret on either side.

The motion of the camel is at first unpleasant to the rider, but he soon gets used to it. He is thrown forward at each step, and his best plan is to let himself go with the movement; any attempt to retain a steady upright position being useless. The camel in walking has a slow majestic pace; he holds his head erect, and though apparently looking upwards, he sees the ground beneath his feet perfectly well, and picks his steps in rocky or broken places with wonderful sagacity. When walking the side feet overlap each other, so that the print of the hind foot is in advance of that of the forefoot to an extent of from 14 to 20 inches. This gives him an immense stride, so that his rate of progress is much greater than the rider supposes when perched on his back. A good dromedary will walk at the rate of four English miles per hour, or even more, but the average rate is less than this. When receiving his load or his rider, he lies on his belly, the legs gathered under him, and during the process or even in anticipation of it, gives forth the most horrible moans or growls. Anything more hideous than the voice of a camel when he is discontented can scarcely be conceived; the tone varies from the grunting of a pig in extremis, to the last braying note of a donkey, or the deep growl of a lion; and during the daily processes of getting ready for the march, the chorus produced by some thirty camels receiving their loads is something too horrible for description. The great ordeal for the rider is to keep his place while the animal is getting on his legs. Being seated on the saddle, the animal commences to rise by raising himself half way on his hind legs, when the rider is suddenly jerked forward, and has to keep a tight hold of the front pommel of the saddle in order to retain his seat; next the camel gets up on his fore feet, and the rider is thrown back; and