The Ship of the Desert

A ship can move easily on the waters of the sea. I can move easily on the sands of the desert.

So I am called the ship of the desert. In common man's language they call me a camel.

I can walk long distance without rest. The hot sands of the desert give me no problem. I can live without food and water for many days.

Do you notice the hump on my back? It is my larder. I store my food in it. Before starting on a long journey, I eat and drink a lot. I can drink 80 liters of water at one time. Then my hump fills out. It becomes firm and upright. During the journey, I draw food from my hump.

Some of my relatives have two humps. They are from central Asia. They are called Bactrian camels. I am an Arabian camel. I am from Arabia. All Arabian camels have one hump only.

a) I have thick hair on my body. My hairy coat saves me from the heat of the sun.

b) I have busy eyebrows and long eyelashes. They keep my eyes safe from sand.

c) I have hair on my ear holes. Thus sand can not get into my ear holes.

d) I can close my nostrils. Thus sand can't get into my nose when there is a sandstorm.

e) My feet are quite wide. They are padded. They help me to grip well on sandy ground. My legs are quite strong. They can walk quite fast. I can go over 100 kilometers in a day.

*What are the Uses from camel?

A~ the camel is the most useful animal in the desert. It can carry heavy loads through the burning, hot sand. Its feet are adapted to walk on sand.

I am one of man's earliest friends. I have been serving him for over 3000 years. I carry heavy loads for him on my back. Sometimes I help him in his fields also. Man gets from me meat and milk. He uses my dried droppings as fuel. He uses my hair to make cloth for himself.

• But does he treat me kindly?
• Does he give me enough to eat?
• Just go ad find out.