Camels in America (1800s)

[Roshina]

I'm taking this class called Interpreting the Middle East, and it's one of the most enlightening courses I've ever taken in my life. Besides an amazing teacher who believes that if you say something that sounds "unintelligent," it must only be so because she misunderstood you, the course is designed to train us to write, speak, and think objectively -- not just in terms of discussions held about the Middle East but in terms of anything and everything. And, so, we are to critique everything we read, asking and seeking answers to questions like, Who wrote this? What is the author's goal? Could she/he have said this particular statement in a less harsh, more objective way? Are there alternative interpretations or explanations available for this point/event? If so, why did this particular author give us only this particular version and not any other? When was this written/discovered? How? Why should I accept what I'm being told here? How do we determine what's true/authentic and what's not? And we should all be asking such questions in our daily lives in order to better understand whatever we're being taught. (I'm now starting to reject the idea of being taught and am replacing it with the better one of learning only. k, but that's another story for another time, hah.)

Anyway, so we read this really cool literature on practically everything about the Middle East (and often Islam). In addition, we're required to write a journal entry each week on something, anything, we read/discuss in class.

I'm sharing below one of my journals because I think some of us might learn something from it -- and because it shocked me when I discovered it (I mean, CAMELS IN AMERICA?! No way!). The idea came to me one day when we had to read a chapter of this book called The Camel and the Wheel by Richard Bulliet.

Thanks for listening!

Pasting into the next post.

[Benafsha]

If you are interested, you should look at the history of camels in Australia. Afghans introduced camels to Autsralia in the 1800s.

[*Mahzala*]

If you are interested, you should look at the history of camels in Australia. Afghans introduced camels to Autsralia in the 1800s.

We've discussed it here, on the forum, or at least tried to.

Qrratugai, these are the links.

http://www.pashtunforums.com/pashtun-history-8/afghan-camelmen-australia-3693/

http://www.pashtunforums.com/pashtun-history-8/afghans-australia-382/

[Zayam]

I do not smoke, and do not think smoking is a good thing, BUT that is the first thing that comes to mind when I think "CAMEL" the cigarette!

It is also on the logo for my import company.

I remember though seeing camels in Southern California as a child, my grandparents lived in the desert.

[Admin Khan]

Hmm... very interesting claim. How do people "introduce" something like camels into another region? I'll have to look into that. Thanks for bringing it up!

She is actually right. What our very own Benafsha meant was that in early 1800s, no one was quite experienced with camels, especially Australians. What ended up happening was approximately 3,000 Afghans traveled to Australia, from which a majority served as cameleers. Afghans were well experienced and they knew how to handle camels. One of the leaders of this movement was Haji Mulla Merban from Kandahar. Mulla Merban served as the leaders for the Afghan camel drivers who were working for the overland telegraph line. Also, 120 camels had been brought into Australia in the 1960s, together with Afghan tribesmen. My dad tells me stories all the time how hundreds of people from Kandahar left for Australia to assist them in reconstruction and development.

Afghans have contributed a lot to Australia, In fact, If it wasn't for Afghans, most of the development in Australia would have not even been possible. Afghans even developed a railway for Australians, which was initially named the Afghan. Since Australians love abbreviations, they changed it's name to the Ghan. Today, it still operates and millions of Australians are completely oblivious to why it's named the 'Ghan'. Sadly, the Australian government hardly recognizes the strives and efforts made by Afghans. In result, Australians for the most matter are completely unaware of the Afghan contributions to Australia.

[Zayam]

Roshina-

Just Google Indio Date Festival I never went to the festival itself, but it is the area I remember seeing camels as a child.

[Zayam]

Maybe it is the reason I always felt that there was something special about camels....and I knew about the desert heat, and that camels could go a long time without water...I have mirrored camels, and leather camels, and wooden camels....yes I do collect them!