THE CAMEL CORPS OF THE BRITISH ARMY.

Western Star, Issue 932, 21 March 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CAMEL CORPS OF THE BRITISH ARMY.

Among the curious features of the British military expedition which is now slowly proceeding up the river Nile to Ithartoum, is a camel corps. It is composed of several thousands of ungainly camels, each carrying a trooper. This body of men and stalks

ing animals is said to present an extraordinary spectacle, especially when in motion. The uniform consists of a red flannel tunic, corduroy knee breeches and serge leggings, with pith helmet covered by white cloth. The accoutrements are heavy, and include a rolled cloak on the right shoulder, a leather cartridge belt on the left shoulder, a tin mess strap, a water bottle, a brown leather ammunition bandoleer with fifty rounds of ammunition and a rifle pocket iu which the butt of the rifle is supported. The arms are the Mar-tini-Henry rifle and bayonet instead of the ordinary cavalry carbine. Each camel also carries the second half of the tent, with pole and guides, besides three days’ provisions and water for his master, and food for himself.

These tents afford cover for two men each ; a water-proof sheet forms the floor, and on the pole of the tent hangs leathern water bottle with filtered water, while outside on a tripod is hang a skin with well or Nile water for ordinary purposes. One end of the tent is closed by a laced curtain, which can be shifted to either end for protection against sand-storms. A good load for a camel is about 600 pounds, though for short journeys it cau carry 1,000 pounds ; its speed is seldom more tnan three miles an hour,, and the swiftest dromedaries do not exceed ten ; but the former rate of travel can be kept up for twenty hours without rest. The hump upon its back affords praticaliy a storehouse for food, as it is slowly reabsorbed during long marches. Its first stomach or pouch has a division (which may be closed by a muscular action) whose walls are provided with a system of large cells, capable of considerable distention, which the animal can fill with several quarts of water, and thus carry with itself a supply for its own wants for a week, a supply which it occasionly yields with its life to save that of his master* Its strength, power of endurance, ability to subsist on the coarsest food, to go without water, and to travel over the yielding sand, have earned for it the name of ‘ Ship of the desert.’ The justness of this cognomen is strongly attested by the British soldiers, one of whom writes that he never felt ‘ more at sea than when first taking a camel ride, the motion producing such sensations as most people feel at sea, during rough weather, the peculiar swinging and jerking gait jolting up the uninitiated in a way anything but pleasant. The height of the Arabian camel at the shoulder is between six and seven feet, and the color of the rather coarse hair is of various shades of brown. The first attempt to mount one calls for no little dexterity as the usual mode is to bestride the animal while he is on his knees, and it is no easy matter for a novice to maintain the correct ‘ centre of gravity’ when the animal rises. The British soldiers, however, seem to have entered this novel service with considerable enthusiasm, and have [been disposed to make pets o£ their new companions, although they report that thus far it seems to be a most ‘ unsocial beast.’