_Male and Female, imported from Arabia._
THESE stupenduous Animals are most deserving the attention of
the curious, being the greatest natural curiosity ever
exhibited to the publick on this continent. They are 19 hands
high--have necks near 4 feet long--have a large bunch on their
backs, & another under their breasts, in the form of a
pedestal, on which they support themselves when lying
down--they have 4 joints in their hind legs, and will travel
12 or 14 days without drinking, and carry a burthen of 1500
wt.--they are remarkably harmless and docile, and will lie
down and rise at command.
* * * * *
_Abraham was old and well stricken in age: And the Lord had
blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said unto his
eldest Servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had,
Thou shalt go unto my Country, and to my Kindred, and take a
Wife unto my Son Isaac. And the Servant took ten Camels, of
the Camels of his Master, and departed; and went to
Mesopotamia, unto the city Nahor. And he made his Camels to
kneel down without the city, by a well of water, at the time
of the evening, even the time that Women go out to draw water.
Pure wisdom directed the Servant, and succeeded him in
obtaining the consent of the Parents, Brethren and Kindred of
Rebeccah, that she should go to the Land of Canaan, and become
the Wife of Isaac. And they sent away Rebeccah, their Sister,
with her Damsels and her Nurse, & Abraham's Servant, & his
men, and they rode upon the Camels._--Gen. XXIV.
N.B.--The CAMELS will go from this town this evening.
* * * * *
In 1796 a mermaid was exhibited in Salem, and in 1800 a cassowary bird.
The admission fee to the latter curiosity was for "grown persons" 12-1/2
cents, and for children 6-1/4 cents. The exact change could then be easily
made, as the Spanish silver ninepences (12-1/2 cents) and fourpence
halfpence (6-1/4 cents) were more common than any other silver pieces. The
American dimes and half-dimes had not at that time got much into
circulation in New England.