MAJOR GOVGH'S 'CAMELRY.'

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 86, 24 January 1885, Page 3

MAJOR GOVGH'S 'CAMELRY.'

The drilling of the "Camelry" is thus referred to by the special correspondent of the "Standard": — "Every morning at 6 o'clock Major Gough takes out his detachment to parade. They strike across the desert, and practise advancing in line, and wheeling in sections of fours into column of roulo, dismounting rapidly— not always at the exact time or manner required — engaging imaginary enemies, and then making off again. And highly interesting it is to watch our men manceuyre their camels in military fashion. At fir.st their lamentations at being compelled to take to that ungainly beast of burden as a means of locomotion instead of the clever little Arab horses they had left behind at Cairo, were general and genuine ; but now the majority are more than reconciled to the change. They are beginning to discover that even for short distances a good trotting camel can get over the giound at a pace equal to the smart canter of an ordinary horse; and for long marches, with scant supply of water and inferior food, the camel -is superior beyond comparison. Moreovor, ho is developing a fair degree of intelligence. Already he knows as well as his riders many of the various words of command, and at the word ' halt ' will pull up of a sudden like any veteran riding-school charger. He wheels well, he trots well, and moves with such rogularity that, when a few hundred strong, a body of 'camelry,' as they are already called in camp, look not a little imposing. But when ordered to dismount, tho force becomes suptemely ridiculous. First, officers and men have all to imitate vigorously the gurgle by which their Arab masters were wont to request their camels xo lie down — an uncouth &ound which tho AngloSaxon throat accomplishes wit • difheulty. Then there is a jogging and kicking of heels, and roaring of camels, with English accompaniment ; this lists for a minute or so, until, one by one, all have subsided on the ground, when the men get off, and discipline, silence, and railitajy decorum is restored. It is the same when mounting, and, indeed, one can hear a mile away the mounted infantry execute either of these movements, so great ib the din, and so loud are the complaints to which men and camels give vent.