the camel ratio

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride
Anonymous

Camel milk, as with everything surrounding the animal, is viewed with pride. If you wanted your tea with milk it would usually turn the other way around, with about half of the little glass first filled with milk, and then the black tea poured atop like garnish. In the old days, milk was usually served in the leather bowls now gathering mould on walls but you will get it in the stainless steel ones that make up for lack of character by being easy to maintain.

The typical ratio of camels in a settlement might be one male for as many as 50 females, with the male mating with up to five camels a day. The male is bigger – up to 1,000kg – and you might find him outside the pen, with his legs hobbled, the females and young behind the barbed wire. A camel is precious, and not just sentimental value. A milking animal could fetch RO3,000, while a camel meant for meat might fetch RO500. One might also make cheese from their milk, called zubd, and in the old days their hair would be used to make rope, jackets and even socks for the bedu.

< Previous   Next >



© 2001-2007 p i n a k i