On the Camels

Our last day in Egypt and we get the big event - Pyramids of Giza. Camel ride included.

Uncle Gus had this take on the experience:

"There are three motions which take place before the African dromedary actually stands " high and dry " on his legs. For a better understanding of these motions, let us suppose the animal to be lying down, chewing his cud, opening his ugly mouth, snarling, and showing his wicked eye and brown fangs, as the timid traveler approaches to mount. After getting astride of the saddle, comes motion No. i, which is caused by the animal raising his hind quarters from the ground; this throws you forward, and you lose both your hat and your balance : then comes motion No. 2, which- corresponds to motion No. 1, but with the front quarters; this motion throws the traveler as far backward as he was thrown forward before. These two motions leave the animal and the traveler neither fairly up nor altogether down ; and it requires another motion, No. 3, to bring fore and hind quarters, together with the hump and other adjacent portions, to a "perpendicular;" which act, when accomplished, leaves the rider on the animal's hump, provided he has clung to the saddle with sufficient tenacity. After the first mount the whole matter is simplified."