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Thursday, November 4, 2010

Camel's through Time

Camels were first bought to Australia in the 1840's.
Then in 1866 Thomas Elder established the first camel stud in Beltana, South Australia, with camels mainly from Karachi, India.
Later the large two-humped Bactrian camels and the one-humped Dromedary, powerful camels from India followed with the riding camels of Arabia.
Today the feral camels found in outback Australia,
are a mix of all these breeds. They are strong animals of good quality. 
Australia is now the only country in the world with feral dromedary camels.
In fact the only feral camel herds in the world are located here.
They number in the hundreds of thousands.

Last week our town celebrated a camel race and we decided to go and watch.
Camels do not follow rules. Some ran fast, some walked and some refused to move.
They all displayed their own personal temperament, without any bad manners of biting or spitting.






The Season of Christmas
We read about the birth of Christ in God's Word and of the wise men visiting from afar. 
We are not told how many wise men came, only that they brought three gifts with them. 
However, we can assume they made the journey on the most reliable mode of transport, the faithful camel.  

 Matthew 2:7-11
"Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh."

Note: here we are also told, they found Jesus, in the house.  So perhaps they actually found him older than....a babe in a stable.

God gave us many ways to travel.

18 comments:

  1. Interesting post! We had feral camels in this country for a while after the civil war. In fact, the last I heard, there were still laws on the books in a state or two stating that it's illegal to shoot a camel, even though there haven't been any for years.

    Good point about "the house." Most people miss that.

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  2. That was interesting Crystal, I didn't know we had camel races here last week...lol.

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  3. Interesting post, Crystal Mary, I didn't know about camels in Australia (or America, Gorges). They are strange beasts. Helen and I had a ride on one on holiday in Tunisia years back. It throws you about as if they have only 3 legs!
    The wise men. Yes, I have heard that it could have been a couple of years after the shepherds - don't remember why, maybe because Herod ordered the slaughter of all children under two when he had inquired when the Christ had been born. It also doesn't say there were THREE wise men - only 3 gifts. Maybe there were four, or more.

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  4. The important fact that I believe about this wonderful story is that this was my Savior that was born...and of a virgin. The facts about a house/stable...three or ??? wise men pale in comparison. Praise His holy name.

    Interesting post CM. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Brilliant Post - a subject i hadn't considered.
    What a gift.
    g

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  6. I really enjoyed reading this post Crystal Mary. The pictures were great and I enjoyed reading the scriptures. I have only seen camels in the zoo. God bless you. Lloyd

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  7. ..that's an enjoyable read... very interestin' and factual.... i have li'l knowledge 'bout camels but after readin' this post it seems like i have gained so much facts than the last... thank you!!!:) how i wish i could see one in the future.... i think camels are one of the most fascinating creatures ever living and i wanna ride on their backs someday... thanks for sharin' this!!!:)

    God Bless!!!:)

    TC.

    ~Kelvin

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  8. Very nice post! Very interesting. I would love to go to a camel race one day :>)

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  9. Hey Gorges, I wonder where all the U.S. camels disappeared to?? maybe the zoo, or if there is a law against shooting them, then maybe they were all killed? sad!

    Hi Carol, I only found out because Ray read it in the local rag. It was fun, they make you laugh. Apparently its on every year. I don't believe we will go again. it was a hot dusty day out. Thank God the flies forgot to come.

    Hi Phillip, yes I have heard the ride is pretty rough. I cannot imagine what it would be like when they run... a good back breaker by the sounds...

    Hello Stan, You are so right! Yet I was trying to get people to Think... we hear the Christmas story and know it well, yet its not authentic..
    We are told three wise men, but the bible gives no number? And yes Mary was a virgin and probably a very young lass, but she did have marital relations with Joseph later. Then the date of Christ's birth? unknown and not important in those days, it was more so when one dead. We need to read it all for ourselves and think about it. I know you do this..as all who love him do.

    The note, We don't think about camels do we? yet they are a wonderful commodity in a dry harsh land. Forgotten until needed...we take all Gods blessing for granted. Hugs

    Hi Lloyd,they have such wise faces..you wonder what they are thinking. I once watched a movie called, "The camel that cried." It effected me very much.

    Hello TC, I hope you get to see a camel one day. They are delightful..as long as they don't spit or bite. But I feel if they are treated kindly, that won't happen.

    Hello Charli's mummy, I hope you and little Charli get to see the camels race one day. You can on Youtube.. I actually video's them, but could not download..oh well, not meant to be.

    God Bless you all. !!

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  10. Gosh...I write so fast and later with time see my spelling mishaps...LOL

    Stan...the word is died...not dead.

    Charli's Mummy. Video'd them...

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  11. I had no idea that you had camels there - I just never thought of it. Liked your story.

    sandie♥

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  12. Hi,

    I like the look of your Blog. Especially the picture at the top and the saying about prayer from Matthew 18:20.

    Regarding camels: "Later the large two-humped Bactrian camels and the one-humped Dromedary, powerful camels from India ... " There is also a new species of three-humped camels known as Humphrey!

    God bless.

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  13. Crystal,

    Shalom!

    I rode a camel in Egypt when I was climbing Mount Sinai. That experience really good.

    Very nice post! Very interesting.

    God bless your life.

    God bless....

    Kisses
    Suely

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  14. Feral camels....you never know what you're going to learn on your post! Always inspiring. xo

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  15. Hi Crystal,
    Wow, that's amazing about the camels! Hard to imagine a camel race...how interesting!
    Your blog looks so happy and I love the background...I just came over to wish you a wonderful weekend!!!
    Love,
    Cindy

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  16. I like the photo of people from a previous era riding camels, and I saw some camel races in the desert near Jericho, Jordan. How fun for you to see camel races, and the camel crossing sign. I hadn't thought before of how the wise men journeyed so far on these camels that are not always easy to manage.

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  17. Hello Crystal Mary it's been a real pleasure coming and visiting your lovely blog...My sister and I just got back from the Potter's House Retreat in NC...It was a small group and each of us felt the presence of God while there...it's wonderful to find so many bloggers who love sharing the Love for our Lord with others...(((blessings)))

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  18. Very interesting post. Camels are such interesting animals. I'll never forget riding a camel in Egypt to the pyramids. It was a frightening experience when the camel driver made the camel take off in a run, but I'm glad I rode it. I'm also glad I was much younger then. LOL
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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