Bactrian Camels, Peking, China

Categories

Special Collections > Keystone Slides

Type

tiff scanned file from original glass slide

Description

Here in this strange, old Chinese city you see one of the strangest of the beasts of burden. At least it is strange to us of the Western World. Man has tamed many animals to be his companions or his helpers. But none of these to us is so unusual as the camel. In his general make-up the camel is not an ordinary beast. He carries on his back a huge hump or two which makes him look queer. His neck and head are unshapely. His thighs are long and placed straight up-and-down, so that he walks with a long, ungainly swing. His feet have two toes, and a leathery pad besides. His nose is fitted with leathery flaps. Even his stomach is peculiar. Parts of it are made so that no solid food, only fluids, can enter; and here is his reserve water supply. Yet how beautifully fitted he is for his surroundings. He is a beast of the desert. His humps are his storehouses of food for long journeys where food is not to be had. His neck is shaped correctly when you see him on his knees hiding his head from a sandstorm. His long stride rocks him gently over the sandy ways, and his leathern pads keep his feet from becoming worn and sore. No wonder the camel is called the "ship of the desert." There are two general types of the camel-the one-humped and the two-humped. The first is the dromedary, the second is the Bactrian camel. The dromedary is the fleeter of foot, but the Bactrian camel can stand more cold. The llamas of South America also belong to the camel family. What other unusual animal do you know about? Make a list of other animals you know that man has tamed. Keystone ID: 14558 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.

Rights

Copyright by the Keystone View Company. The original slides are housed in McConnell Library's Special Collections.