THE CAMEL IN AUSTRALIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2049, 9 April 1907, Page 4

THE CAMEL IN AUSTRALIA.

The camel does more useful work I in Australia than provide amuseI nient for children. Mr Haim’s disI paraging .remarks on camels- —Mr I Hann’s journey across 800 miles of I entral Australia was described in I these columns recently—has drawn I an interesting article on the subject I from a mail with a large experience I in Australian exploration. He I thinks Mr Ilaiin must have had a I very inferior class of camel, for he I (the writer) has never known camels I to give in in the hottest weather. On I one occasion he worked camels, I carrying heavy loads, thirteen days I without water, and not one of them I shirked work. Heavily laden pack I camels could always do from 15 to I 20 miles a day, and he frequently I covered 70 miles a day on his riding I animal. As a rule the white man I does not make a success of camels. I He does not take the interest in the I animals that he does in the horse, I which is not to be wondered- at, conI sidering the intractable character of I the beast, and the powerful odour 1 that it carries with it. The Afghan I and the Indian understand the I camel thoroughly, _and in loading I and unloading they are experts. It I is generally thought by those “in the I know” that the want of knowledge I in working camels of the Burke exI pedition had a good deal to do with I the collapse of the party. -If you give a camel drink every time he wants, it will take in no supply, and when a long waterless spell comes, will collapse like a horse. The repugnance shown by other animals to camels is astonishing. Horses show signs of abject fear on meeting them, and it lias been weeks before they have lost the tendency to bolt on , seeing a camel. Horses will not face a track that camels have passed along, even days before band, while i cattle will often charge a camel j team either from madness, due to . fright, or from antipathy. On one j occasion the writer, having some i business to transact at a mining ( tc;wesbt!i, took the precaution to ! Intlic-r hi" camel a mile away. But 2

tlio animal got away and invaded the main street, with the result thaji .very liorso in the place broke its iridlo and bolted. “On ono occasion a bull charged tlio camel I was on, causing me to put the camel at his fastest pace, the bull, with head well lowored for business, keeping up n merry paco at the roar. Suddenly, and 'without notice, my camel throw hiinsolf down on tlio ground (as suddenly ns an Afghan when ho sees the sun just disappearing), either from sulkiness or vexation of spirit, and began to hollow ill such an twful manner that tlio bull turned tail and lied in despair, the rest of tlio cattle falling over each other in their hurry to escape.”