The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 33, July 1929 - April, 1930 Page: 23
344 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Importation of Camels by the United States Government 23
dred dromedaries, two men to each animal, the men sitting back
to back, one facing the head and the other the tail, both armed
with rifles and sabers. When the scene of battle was reached, the
dromedaries were made to kneel in a square, forming a base of
operations from which five hundred of the men could operate as
infantry. In case of emergency, the square afforded a cover under
which the men could all find comparative shelter behind the ani-
mals, who were kept from rising by a hobble on the foreleg. "This
corps, I was told," said Major Wayne in a letter to Davis, "could
be readily marched seventy miles in any direction in twelve hours
and rendered throughout the campaign most efficient service."'6
After the return to Constantinople in the latter part of October,
a month or more was passed in searching about for the best regions
in which to purchase more camels. It was decided not to take on
board any camels brought up in or about a city, for they were
almost always diseased or crippled. Early in December, the Supply
sailed to Alexandria, Egypt, for the purpose of studying the trained
dromedaries there. Wayne went on to Cairo, accompanied by Mr.
Ieap, American Consul at Syria, Porter remaining in charge of
the boat at Alexandria. It was Wayne's intention to secure ten
dromedaries if the Pasha would permit them to be taken out of
the country, there being a prohibition against the exportation of
any animal without government permission.1
In Cairo, Wayne purchased some dromedaries, feeling certain
that there would be no difficulty relative to their exportation. But
there was plenty of trouble ahead. The Pasha took the matter up
with the Viceroy, who authorized the exportation of only two.
camels, stating that it was only out of regard for the Government
of the United States that even this small concession had been made.
Major Wayne was in no mood to be turned aside by a series of
mere royal decrees issued from the Viceroy and requested that his,
royal highness give him permission to take out at least six camels,
"that the arrival in the United States of at least two living animals
may be assured."8 The reply came on December 25: two male
camels and two female camels might be exported, and a postscript
"Report, 31. Wayne to Davis, Constantinople, October 31, 1855.
'Report, 32-35. Porter to Davis, Alexandria, December 12, 1855.
"sReport, 40. Wayne to C. Kahil, United States Vice-Consul at Cairo,
Cairo, December 24, 1855.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 33, July 1929 - April, 1930, periodical, 1930; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101090/m1/31/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.