CAMELS THEIR POWERS. 37 a bite in the hand, but he had to go into hospital for it. I heard of one or two men having a leg broken from a kick at various times, but it was the exception, and not the rule, for a camel is really a very docile animal, and learns to behave himself in the most trying positions with equanimity, though I fear it is only the result of want of brains.

Regarding his wonderful powers of endurance, I was told of journeys made across country from Dongola to Alexandria (950 miles) in eight days ; of his marvellous powers of going for forty days running ; of trotting 200 miles without a halt ; of his going fifteen days without water, etc. My experience is that he gets a sore back after four days, or less ; does not go comfortably for more than five consecutive days, and as for trotting, it was only by a vigorous application of the koorbash that I could succeed in making mine go that pace for more than fifty yards at a time. I own that, though my first impressions of a camel's powers were thus bad, and I do not now believe in those wonderful tales told me by wily natives, yet the beast rose