:^ :^ ^ ^

You had better mount your dromedary this morn-
ing for the first time. You need not be a&aid of
approaching him, as he is a particularly quiet beast ;
only do not get into the habit of walking carelessly
within reach of camels' tusks and hind legs. The
kick is an awful one, so is the bite : the brutes hold
like bull dogs, and with the purchase afforded by
their long pliable necks they can twist your arm off
in a minute.
Before throwing your leg over the framework of
wood, padded and covered with a thickly quilted
gaudy-coloured silk cushion, acting saddle, shake



THE CAMEL BIDE. 95

ike bells that gamisli your animal^s necklace of
blue beads^ a talisman against the mal occhio, and
give him a bit of biscuit. If you startle him at first
when mounting him, he is very apt to get into a
habit of converting his squatting into a standing
position, with a suddenness by no means pleasant.
There, you are on now. Hold his nose-string
lightly ; give him his head, and after once putting
him in the right path, let him do what he pleases.
