CAMEL EQUIPMENT. 25

after), with sometimes an apron of thin leather below,

to keep it off the quarters of the camel, or above, to

protect it from the sun, and the Egyptian water-bottle

or " mussek," a long stiff leather bottle, which, unless

it lets it all leak out in half-an-hour, makes the water

beautifully cool. On the fore pommel hangs the

camel's rations for three days, thirty pounds of corn.

Over the saddle-bags are placed the second blanket,

and over everything comes a padded red leather

saddle cover, on top of which the rider is perched.

Such is a camel-saddle and equipment.*

The knifeboard framework was made of thin

pieces of unseasoned wood, which we had to lash with

wire ; the girths and straps were fearfully rotten, and

were only kept going by a liberal application of grease ;

whilst the water-skins and musseks were heart-

breaking, letting out the water nearly as soon as filled.

We were told they would swell when wet, and thus

close up the pores, and in some cases they did, though

in others they were holey ; generally as soon as one

hole was sewn up, another would open, and the water

would trickle steadily out ; it also escaped invisibly, I

* See Appendix II.