Out of the last mentioned of these sights, an incident arose, illustrating the craft of their captors in the management of their domestic animals.
A refractory camel, that, according to usual habit, had voluntarily humiliated itself to receive its load, after this had been packed upon it, refused to rise to its feet. The beast either deemed the burden inequable and unjust,--for the Arabian camel, like the Peruvian llama, has a very acute perception of fair play in this respect,--or a fit of caprice had entered its mulish head. For one reason or another it exhibited a stern determination _not_ to oblige its owner by rising to its feet; but continued its genuflexion in spite of every effort to get it on all-fours.
Coaxing and cajolery were tried to no purpose. Kicking by sandalled feet, scourging with whips, and beating with cudgels produced no better effect; and to all appearance the obstinate brute had made up its mind to remain in the oasis and let the tribe depart without it.
At this crisis an ingenious method of making the camel change its mind suggested itself to its master; or perhaps he had practised it on some former occasion. Maddened by the obstinacy of the animal, he seized hold of an old burnouse, and rushing up, threw it over its head. Then drawing the rag tightly around its snout, he fastened it in such a manner as completely to stop up the nostrils.
The camel finding its breathing thus suddenly interrupted, became terrified; and without further loss of time, scrambled to its feet--to the great amusement of the women and children who were spectators of the scene.
In an incredibly short space of time the tents were down, and the douar with all its belongings was no longer to be seen; or only in the shape of sundry packages balanced upon the backs of the animals.
The last operation before striking out upon the desert track, was the watering of these; the supply for the journey having been already dipped up out of the pool, and poured into goat-skin sacks.
The watering of the camels appeared to be regarded as the most important matter of all. In this performance every precaution was taken, and every attention bestowed, to ensure to the animals a full supply of the precious fluid,--perhaps from a presentiment on the part of their owners that they themselves might some day stand in need of, and make use of, the _same_ water!
