Camel

CAMEL, an Animal very common in Arabia, Judæa, and the neighbouring Countries. It is called Gamal in Scripture; and as to the signification of its name there is no difficulty. Moses ranks it among those creatures that were unclean. We Deut. xiv. 7. Levit. xi. 4. Ezek. xxxviii. xxxix.may distinguish three sorts of Camels: Some are large and full of flesh, and fit only to carry burthens; it is said that they will carry a thousand pound weight. Others there are, which have two bunches upon their backs, like a natural saddle, which makes them fit either to carry burthens, or for men to ride on. Lastly, there is a third kind, which is leaner, and of a smaller size; these they call Dromedaries, because of their swiftness. These are the Animals generally made use of by men of quality to ride on. The Arabians, Persians, and other people eat the flesh of Camels, and it is served up at the best tables¹. But the use of it was forbid the Hebrews, as we have observed already. Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, vant, made his Camels kneel down to rest themselves near a well of water. Camels keep Water a long time in their Stomach for their Refreshment. Nature has given them for this purpose a very large Ventricle, round about which are many bags closed within the Coats of it, wherein it is very probable that these Animals keep water in reserve. It is confidently said, that they will continue ten or twelve days without either eating or drinking.

But what is usually said of these Bags to be found about the Stomach of Camels, and their reserving water for many days in them, is contradicted by the physical Observations of the Jesuits made in China, where they dissected several Camels, and found nothing like them. As soon as a Camel is born, they tie his four Feet under his Belly, put a Carpet over his Back, and Stones upon the Borders of it, that he may not be able to rise for twenty days together. Thus they teach him the habit of bending his Knees to rest himself, or when he is to be loaded or unloaded. He has a large solid Foot, but not a hard one; in the Spring all his Hair falls off in less than three days time, and his Skin remains quite naked. At such times the Flies are extremely uneasy to him, and there is no remedy besides belabouring his Body. They dress him with a Switch instead of a Curry Comb; with this they beat him as they wou’d a Carpet, to clear it of the dust. When he is upon a Journey, his Master follows him singing and whistling, and the louder he sings, the better the Camel goes.

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