EC: There are special breeds of camels that are bred to race. These are not used for Caravans, but for raiding parties (in the old days). These camels are still pictured on many Christmas cards. The are much taller, longer legs, and short coupled.
The greatest raiders were the Tuareq of North Africa. A very rich culture, many were blue-eyed and fair in complexion. They are Islamic, but matrilineal. This group was the origin of the 'romantic love' tradition. It spread from North Africa into Spain with the Moors, then to the rest of Europe and became Chivalry. If you research the Tuareq, you will find that the men had to win their fair ladies, and used feats of valor, poetry, etc. A very interesting group that once dominated all of the NW Sahara (centered on Timbuctoo). The main article of trade was salt.
Regretably, the camel caravans have been replaced by diesel trucks and the various governments have pretty much eliminated the old raiding ways of this nomadic group.
Lee (the hopeless romantic) |
