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THE CAME L.
CHAPTER I.
The two species of Camel, and the mode of distinguishing them-Value of the
Camel in the East-Camels mentioned as elements of wealth-Uses of the
Camel-The Jews forbidden to eat its flesh-The milk of the Camel-Thirst-
enduring capability-The internal reservoir-The hump, and its uses to the
animal-The Camel as a beast of draught and burden-How the Camel is laden
-Knowledge of its own powers-Camels for riding-Difficulty of sitting a
Camel-A rough-paced steed-Method of guiding the Camel-The mesh'ab,
or Camel-stick of office-The women's saddle--Rachel's stratagem-Ornaments
of the Camel-The swift dromedary, Heirie, or Deloul-Its ungainly aspect—
Speed and endurance of the Deloul-The Camel-posts of Bornu-Camel-
drivers and their conduct-The driver's song-Young Camels and their
appearance-The deserted Camel
. 216
CHAPTER II.
The Camel and its master-Occasional fury of the animal-A boy killed by a
Camel --Another instance of an infuriated Camel-Theory respecting the
Arab and his Camel-Apparent stupidity of the Camel-Its hatred of a load,
and mode of expressing its disapprobation—Riding a Camel through the
streets-A narrow escape-Ceremony of weaning a young Camel-The Camel's
favourite food-Structure of the foot and adaptation to locality-Difficulty
in provisioning-Camel's hair and skin-Sal-ammoniac and desert fuel-
The Camel and the needle's eye-Straining at a gnat and swallowing a
Camel
233
THE BACTRIAN CAMEL.
General description of the animal-Its use in mountain roads-Peculiar formation
of the foot-Uses of a mixed breed-Its power of enduring cold-Used chiefly
as a beast of draught-Unfitness for the plough-The cart and mode of
harnessing The load which it can draw-Camel-skin ropes—A Rabbinical
legend. 244
THE HORSE.
The Hebrew words which signify the Horse-The Horse introduced into Palestine
from Egypt-Similarity of the war-horse of Scripture and the Arab horse of
the present day-Characteristics of the Horse-Courage and endurance of the
Horse-Hardness of its unshod hoofs-Love of the Arab for his Horse-Diffi-
culty of purchasing the animal-The Horse prohibited to the Israelites--
Solomon's disregard of the edict-The war-chariot, its form and use-Probable
construction of the iron chariot-The cavalry Horse-Lack of personal interest
in the animal.
248
THE ASS.
Importance of the Ass in the East-Its general use for the saddle-Riding
the Ass not a mark of humility-The triumphal entry-White Asses-
Character of the Scriptural Ass-Saddling the Ass-The Ass used in agricul-
ture-The Ass's millstone-The water-wheel and the plough-Reminiscences
of the Ass in the Scriptural narrative-Its value as property-The flesh of
the Ass-The siege of Samaria and its horrors-Various legends respecting the
Ass-The impostor and his fate-Samson and Balaam.
264
THE WILD ASS.
The Arod and Pere of Scripture-Various allusions to the Wild Ass-Its swiftness
and wildness-The Wild Ass of Asia and Africa- Knowledge of the animal
displayed by the sacred writers-How the Wild Ass is hunted-Excellence of
its flesh-Sir R. K. Porter's meeting with a Wild Ass-Origin of the domestic
Ass-The Wild Asses of Quito . . . 279
THE MULE.
Ancient use of the Mule-Various breeds of Mule-Supposed date of its introduc-
tion into Palestine-Mule-breeding forbidden to the Jews-The Mule as a
saddle-animal-Its use on occasions of state-The king's Mule-Mules brought
from Babylon after the captivity-Obstinacy of the Mule-The Mule as a
beast of burden-The "Mule's burden" of earth-Mules imported by the
Phoenicians Legends respecting the Mule 285
SWINE.
The Mosaic prohibition of the pig-Hatred of Swine by Jews and Mahometans
-A strange use of bacon-The prodigal son-Resistance to the prosecution of
Antiochus Swine hated by the early Egyptians-Supposed connexion between
Swine and diseases of the skin-Destruction of the herd of Swine-The
locality of the event discovered-Pigs bred for the monasteries-The jewel of
gold in a Swine's snout-The wild boar of the woods, and the beast of the
reeds-The damage which it does to the vines-General account of the wild
boar of Palestine-Excellence of its flesh..
292
THE ELEPHANT.
The Elephant indirectly mentioned in the Authorized Version-Solomon's ivory
throne--Ivory used in Egypt-Horns of ivory-The ivory palaces-Beds of
ivory-The Tyrian ships-Ivory mentioned by Homer-Vessels of ivory-
THE BEAR.
The Syrian Bear-Identity of the Hebrew and Arabic titles-Its colour variable
according to age-Bears once numerous in Palestine, and now only occasion-
ally seen-Reason for their diminution-Present localities of the Bear, and
its favourite haunts-Food of the Bear-Its general habits-Its ravages
among the flocks-The Bear dangerous to mankind-The Bear robbed of her
whelps-Illustrative passages-Its mode of fighting-Various references to
the Bear, from the time of Samuel to that of St. John.
75
THE HEDGEHOG, OR BITTERN.
Various readings of the word Kippôd-The Jewish Bible and its object-The
Syrian Hedgehog and its appearance-Its fondness for dry spots-The pro-
phecies of Isaiah and Zephaniah, and their bearing on the subject—The
Porcupine supposed to be the Kippôd-The Hedgehog and Porcupine called
by the same name in Greek and Arabic-Habits of the Porcupine-Its quills,
and the manner of their shedding 80
THE PORCUPINE.
Presumed identity of the Kippôd with the Porcupine-The same Greek name
applied to the Porcupine and Hedgehog-Habits of the Porcupine The
common Porcupine found plentifully in Palestine .
85
THE MOLE.
The two Hebrew words which are translated as "Mole "-Obscurity of the former
name-A parallel case in our own language-The second name-The Moles
and the Bats, why associated together-The real Mole of Scripture, its
different names, and its place in zoology-Description of the Mole-rat and
its general habits-Curious superstition-Discovery of the species by Mr.
Tristram-Scripture and science-How the Mole-rat finds its food--Distinc-
tion between the Mole and the present animal . 86
THE MOUSE.
Conjectures as to the right translation of the Hebrew word Akbar-Signification
of the word-The Mice which marred the land-Miracles, and their economy
of power-The Field-mouse-Its destructive habits and prolific nature-The
insidious nature of its attacks, and its power of escaping observation-The
Hamster, and its habits-Its custom of storing up provisions for the winter
-Its fertility and unsociable nature--The Jerboa, its activity and destructive-
ness-Jerboas and Hamsters eaten by Arabs and Syrians-Various species of
Dormice and Sand-rats.
91
THE HARE.
The prohibitions of the Mosaic law-The chewing of the cud and division of the
hoof-Identity of the Hare of Scripture-Rumination described-The Hare a
rodent and not a ruminant-Cowper and his Hares-Structure of the rodent
tooth-The Mosaic law accommodated to its recipients--The Hares of Palestine
and their habits.
96
CATTLE.
The cattle of Palestine, and their decadence at the present day-Ox-flesh not
used for food in modern times-Oxen of the stall, and oxen of the pasture-
The use of the ox in agriculture-The yoke and its structure-The plough
and the goad-The latter capable of being used as a weapon-Treading out
the corn-The cart and its wheels-The ox used as a beast of burden-Cattle
turned loose to graze-The bulls of Bashan-Curiosity of the ox tribe-A
season of drought-Branding the cattle-An Egyptian field scene--Cattle-
keeping an honourable post-The ox as used for sacrifice-Ox-worship-The
bull Apis, and his history-Persistency of the bull-worship-Jeroboam's sin
-Various names of cattle-The Indian buffalo.
101
THE WILD BULL.
The Tô, Wild Bull of the Old Testament-Passages in which it is mentioned-
The Wild Bull in the net-Hunting with nets in the East-The Oryx sup-
posed to be the Tô of Scripture-Description of the Oryx, its locality, ap-
pearance, and habits-The points in which the Oryx agrees with the Tô-
The “snare" in which the foot is taken, as distinguished from the net
116
THE REÊM, OR "UNICORN" OF SCRIPTURE.
The Reem evidently known to the Jews-Various theories concerning the Unicorn
-Supposed identity with the Indian Rhinoceros-Passages of Scripture
alluding to the strength, violent and intractable temper of the Reêm-The
Reêm a two-horned animal-Its evident connexion with the Ox tribe-Its
presumed identity with the now extinct Urus-Mr. Dawkins' treatise on the
Urus-Enormous size and dangerous character of the Urus-Rabbinical legend
of the Reêm-Identity of the Urus with the modern varieties of cattle-The
Bull-hunts of Nineveh
121
THE BISON.
The Bison tribe and its distinguishing marks—Its former existence in Palestine-
Its general habits-Origin of its name-Its musky odour-Size and speed of
the Bison-Its dangerous character when brought to bay-Its defence against
the Wolf-Its untameable disposition . .
131
THE GAZELLE, OR ROE OF SCRIPTURE.
The Gazelle identified with the Tsebi, i.e. the Roe or Roebuck of Scripture-
Various passages relating to the Tsebi-Its swiftness, its capabilities as a
beast of chase, its beauty, and the quality of its flesh--The Tsebiyah rendered
in Greek as Tabitha, and translated as Dorcas, or Gazelle-Different varieties
of the Gazelle-How the Gazelle defends itself against wild beasts-Chase of
the Gazelle--The net, the battue, and the pitfall-Coursing the Gazelle with
greyhounds and falcons-Mr. Chasseaud's account of a hunting party-
Gentleness of the Gazelle
133
THE PYGARG, OR ADDAX.
The Dishon or Dyshon-Signification of the word Pygarg–Certainty that the
Dishon is an antelope, and that it must be one of a few species-Former and
present range of the Addax--Description of the Addax --The Strepsiceros
of Pliny
141
THE FALLOW-DEER, OR BUBALE.
The word Jachmur evidently represents a species of antelope--Probability that
the Jachmur is identical with the Bubale, or Bekk'r-el-Wash-Resemblance
of the animal to the ox tribe-Its ox-like horns and mode of attack-Its
capability of domestication-Former and present range of the Bubale-Its
representation on the monuments of ancient Egypt-Delicacy of its flesh---
Size and general appearance of the animal
143
THE SHEEP.
Importance of Sheep in the Bible-The Sheep the chief wealth of the pastoral
tribes-Tenure of land-Value of good pasture-land-Arab shepherds of the
present day-Difference between the shepherds of Palestine and England-
Wanderings of the flocks in search of food-Value of the wells-How the