[Someone sent me this. Quite an interesting way to put things! Jan]

A cautionary tale by “Arthur”

(Based -with apologies- on a similar story in 1001 Nights)

A group of Bedouin travelling across the desert decided to make camp before nightfall. Within a very short time all the tents had been erected and the four camels had been watered, fed and tethered. The Bedouin then began preparing and cooking their own evening meal.

As the group sat down talking and eating it became apparent that a sand-storm was building up and approaching. The Bedouin tightened the guys of the tents and awaited the fury of the storm. The tent had been erected to traditional design, developed over hundreds of years, and the Bedouin were confident it would withstand the battering to come and that they would be safe within its confines.

As the winds increased and the first blasts of sand were felt the camels became uneasy and, although they were well able to survive such a storm, began to pull at the tethers. From a constant tugging at the tethers two camels became free, but realising there was nowhere to run to escape the effects of the storm, decided to go to the Bedouin tent. Pulling loose a strap at the tent entrance by its teeth, one of the camels put his head inside the tent. The Bedouin looked up in surprise to see the camel’s head inside the tent and one said “What do you think you are doing in here?”

The camel replied “It is blowing a storm outside and we camels are very uncomfortable.”

At this point the other camel put his head inside the tent also.

“But you are a camel and camels live in the desert and are well able to withstand such a storm. Why have you put your heads inside the tent?” asked the Bedouin.

The camel rolled his eyes and said “Although we are adapted to the conditions of the desert it doesn’t mean we like such conditions. We would like to be inside such a fine tent away from the rigours of the storm, just like you.”

The Bedouin replied “As you can see there is only enough room for us inside the tent so unfortunately you will have to remain outside.”

The camel nodded and said “Yes it is a bit cramped in here but we already have our heads inside the tent and it hasn’t made much difference, would you let us stay with only our heads inside?”

The Bedouin had a discussion and, being reasonable men, had to agree that the two camels’ heads had not made much difference and decided that would be acceptable. So the camels remained where they were.

After some time the camel said “I notice there is another opening on the far side of the tent, if you were to open the top ties the other two camels could put their heads inside also.”

The Bedouin considered the request and decided that there was room enough for two more camels’ heads on the far side of the tent so agreed. The other two camels were released from their tethers and brought to the tent where they put their heads through the opening.

The Bedouin were, at first, reluctant to continue their conversation and their meal, aware of the camels looking down on them, but gradually the talk increased and one by one the Bedouin began to continue their meal and drink the sweet tea and forgot all about the camels heads above them.

Now camels, by their very nature, are noisy animals and after a while began to bray to each other. The Bedouin looked up and one said “Hey, all that braying is too loud, you will have to be quiet or go outside.”

The camel explained that normally they would be laid down by now chewing cud quietly but as they had to stand up it was impossible and braying was all they could do. However, if the Bedouin could just move closer together it would make a little more room and the camels could put their front legs inside the tent lie down and chew the cud quietly.

The Bedouin considered this and, being tolerable men, decided that it would be cruel to turn out the camels now they had allowed them to put their heads inside the tent so each of the Bedouin gathered their belongings and moved closer together so the camels could put their legs inside the tent and lie down.

The camels began to chew the cud and the Bedouin returned to their conversation and all was at peace except for the storm raging outside.

Some time later one of the camels spat a wad of chewed cud onto the floor of the tent. Disgusted, one of the Bedouin said “Hey! Don’t do that in here. That’s a filthy thing to do.”

The camel looked surprised and replied “For all the years you have driven us camels across the deserts you don’t seem to know too much about us. Didn’t you realise that chewing cud allows us to glean every last bit of moisture and goodness from our food but eventually we have to get rid of what’s left and all we can do is spit it out?”

“That may be so” said the Bedouin, “But you don’t have to do it in here.”

The camel asked “Where can we spit it? We are facing inside the tent there is nowhere else to spit but inside.”

The Bedouin discussed the problem and finally agreed that in the present circumstances the camel was right. But how could the problem be solved? The camel hearing this saw an opportunity and said. “Excuse me for being so bold, but if we could get completely in the tent we could turn round and spit the cud outside the tent, and then we wouldn’t offend you.”

The Bedouin, being liberal men, saw the logic of this but said, “That is a solution but there isn’t room enough for four camels and all of us in the tent.”

“Well” replied the camel, “It would only take a couple of you to go outside and there would be plenty of room. May I suggest the two youngest go outside and wrap themselves in blankets to shield against the storm?”

The Bedouin considered this and agreed that it would sort out the problem and while two of the group would be outside it wouldn’t be so bad and at least the rest would not have to endure the spitting of cud. The two youngest members of the group gathered their blankets and went outside as the four camels came fully into the tent. After a while everyone agreed that it was the best solution considering the present circumstances and gradually the conversation returned to other matters.

Some time later a foul smell permeated the air inside the tent. “What on earth is that smell” uttered one of the Bedouin. The camel looked at him and said “It is escaping gas.”

“Escaping gas?” enquired the Bedouin “Where is it escaping from?”

“From me” replied the camel.

“What do you mean from you?” asked the Bedouin.

The camel again rolled his eyes and said “Do you not realise that the food we eat is digested twice and when it enters our second stomach it creates gas. The gas has to go somewhere.”

“Well I can’t stand the smell, I too am going outside.” Whereupon he took up his blankets and left the tent. Seeing him go the rest of the group decided they couldn’t sleep with such foul smells invading the tent and they also left the tent.

The camels were now able to spread out and wallow in luxury inside the tent away from the effects of the storm while the Bedouin were outside wrapped in blankets.

Moral: Let a camel into your tent at your peril.