88 Don’t Fool Around with Camels!

Most people think of a camel as an obedient beast of burden because it is best known for its ability to carry heavy loads across vast stretches of desert without requiring water. In reality, the camel is considerably more than just the Arabian equivalent of the mule. It also possesses a great amount of intelligence and sensitivity.

Arabs assert that camels are so acutely aware of injustice and ill treatment that a camel owner who punishes one of the beasts too harshly finds it difficult to escape the camel’s vengeance. Apparently the animal will remember an injury and wait for an appropriate opportunity to get revenge.

In order to protect themselves from the vengeful beasts, Arabian camel drivers have learned to trick their camels into believing they have achieved revenge. When an Arab realizes that he has excited a camel’s rage, he places his own garments on the ground in the animal’s path. He arranges the clothing so that it appears to cover a man’s body. When the camel recognizes its master’s clothing on the ground, it seizes the pile with its teeth, shakes the garments violently, and tramples on them in a frenzy. Eventually, after its anger has subsided, the camel departs, assuming its revenge is complete. Only then does the owner of the garments come out of hiding—safe for the time being thanks to this clever ruse.

88 别招惹骆驼！

大多数人认为骆驼是顺从的驮兽，因为它最出名的是能在广阔的沙漠中背负重物而不需要喝水。但实际上，骆驼远不只是阿拉伯版的骡子，它还拥有很高的智力和敏感度。

阿拉伯人声称，骆驼对不公和虐待极其敏感，要是骆驼主人惩罚某只骆驼过于严厉，就很难逃脱骆驼的报复。显然，这种动物会记住伤害，并等待合适的时机复仇。

为了保护自己免受这些记仇的动物报复，阿拉伯骆驼夫学会了欺骗骆驼，让它们以为自己已经完成了复仇。当一个阿拉伯人意识到自己激怒了骆驼时，他会把自己的衣服放在骆驼经过的路上，把衣服摆成覆盖着人体的样子。当骆驼认出地上是主人的衣服时，会用牙齿咬住这堆衣服，猛烈地摇晃，疯狂地踩踏。最终，等怒火平息后，骆驼会离开，认为自己已经完成了复仇。只有这时，衣服的主人才会从藏身处出来——多亏这个聪明的计谋，他暂时安全了。