THE CAMEL. . 111

common Josd of an Arabian camel is from four to five
hundred pounds on a long journey, and from three to four
hundred on a journey of considerable distance. The well-
fed and well-watered Egyptian camels are equal in strength
to the Anadolian; those of the largest size, in Cairo, will
carry three bales of coffee, or fifteen hundredweight, from
the town to the waterside, about three miles distant. From
Cairo to Suez, the same camels will carry ten hundred-
weight, and that space is a journey of three days; but the
average of a camel’s burden may be stated as about six or
eight hundred pounds. The male can support heavier loads
than the female, but the latter bears thirst better, an im-
portant consideration in the East.

The camel and dromedary are not swift animals compared
to many others, and though Jeremiah speaks of the “ swift
dromedary,” he must be considered as comparing it with
other breeds of the same animal. The favourite pace of
camels is a kind of easy amble, and if allowed to persevere
in this, they will carry their riders at the rate of five or six
miles an hour, through an uninterrupted journey of several
days and nights. The best-trained camels cannot continue
a gallop for more than half an hour; a forced trot is not so
contrary to their nature; but in this pace they do not