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Marryat, Frederick, 1792-1848

"Masterman Ready"

Take, for instance, the camel, an animal
fashioned expressly for the country to which he is indigenous, and
without whose aid all communication must have been stopped between Asia
and Africa. He is called the `Ship of the Desert'; for the desert is a
`sea of sand'. His feet are so fashioned that he can traverse the sands
with facility; he can live upon the coarsest vegetable food and salt
plants which are found there, and he has the capacity of carrying water
in a sort of secondary stomach, for his own supply where no water is to
be found. Here is an animal wonderfully made by the Almighty for an
express locality, and for the convenience of man in that country; for,
in England, or elsewhere, he would be of no value. But it is late, my
dear William; so we will first thank him for all his mercies, and then
to bed."

Chapter LVII
The next morning was one of bustle; there was packing up and every
preparation for departure. Juno was called here and called there, and
was obliged to ask little Caroline to look after the kettle and call to
her if it boiled over. Master Tommy, as usual, was in every one's way,
and doing more harm than good in his attempts to assist.


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