40 WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE NILE.

forthwith his devoted servant, or, perhaps I should say, his slave. When we arrived at our halting-place we used to form column of companies, dismounting by word of command, and tether our steeds to a long cable rope brought with us for the purpose. The men then fed the camels, took their saddles off when cool, cooked and ate their own dinner, and watered the camels at the river every other day. Five pounds of grain was our steeds' allowance at the evening meal, the other five pounds being given them in the early morning, half-an-hour before starting. Great care had to be taken with the camels, as they are really delicate animals, and had all sorts of unknown ailments if carelessly looked after. When taken down to the river, some camels would look aimlessly about, exhausting the patience of the man by not drinking for ten minutes, or more, and sometimes not drinking at all if the least jostled. They used to get colds in their noses, too, at night, especially the flank ones ; sometimes they caught cold if the saddles were removed too soon ; some-