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Passage –

In the beginning, when the world was new and the Animals were just beginning to work for Man, there was a Camel, and he lived in the middle of a Howling Desert because he did not want to work. He ate sticks and thorns and prickles, and when anybody spoke to him he said “Humph!” Just “Humph!” and no more.

Word Meaning:

• Howling Desert: A desert characterized by the howling sounds of the wind and animals, conveying a sense of emptiness and desolation.
• Thorns: Sharp, stiff projections on the stems of plants, which can deter animals from eating them.
• Prickles: Small, pointed outgrowths on the surface of plants, often causing discomfort if touched.

Explanation:

In the early days of creation, when the world was still fresh and vibrant, animals had just begun to fulfill their roles in serving humans. Among them was a particularly lazy Camel who chose to reside in the heart of a Howling Desert, a place marked by eerie winds and desolate surroundings. This Camel was disinclined to work, preferring a life of solitude and ease. He subsisted on a diet of sticks, thorns, and prickles—plants that were not only unappetizing but also challenging to consume due to their sharpness. Whenever anyone attempted to engage him in conversation, his sole response was a dismissive “Humph!” This one-word reply reflected his unwillingness to communicate or connect with others, emphasizing his laziness and reluctance to partake in the communal efforts of the animal kingdom.

Passage –

Presently the Horse came to him on Monday morning, with a saddle on his back and said, “Camel, O Camel, come out and trot like the rest of us.”

“Humph!” said the Camel, and the Horse went away and told the Man.

Presently the Dog came to him, with a stick in his mouth, and said, “Camel, O Camel, come and fetch and carry like the rest of us.”

“Humph!” said the Camel, and the Dog went away and told the Man.

Presently the Ox came to him, with the yoke on his neck, and said, “Camel, O Camel, come and plough like the rest of us.”

“Humph!” said the Camel, and the Ox went away and told the Man.

Word Meaning:

• Saddle: A seat for riding, typically made of leather.
• Trot: To run at a moderate pace.
• Fetch: To go and bring back something.
• Yoke: A wooden crosspiece for harnessing animals to pull loads.
• Plough: To turn over soil for planting.

Explanation:

On a Monday morning, the Horse approached the Camel with a saddle, inviting him to trot like the other animals. The Camel’s only response was a dismissive “Humph!” This prompted the Horse to report back to the Man. Next, the Dog, carrying a stick, urged the Camel to join in fetching and carrying, but again, the Camel merely replied “Humph!” The Dog then informed the Man of the Camel’s refusal. Finally, the Ox, wearing a yoke, asked the Camel to help plough the fields, but once more, the Camel responded with “Humph!” This passage emphasizes the Camel’s stubborn laziness and reluctance to engage in work, contrasting sharply with the other animals’ eagerness to contribute.

Passage –

At the end of the day the Man called the Horse and the Dog and the Ox together, and said, “Three, O Three, I’m very sorry for you;

but that Humph-thing in the Desert can’t work, or he would have been here by now, so I am going to leave him alone, and you must work double-time to make up for it.”

Word Meaning:

• Double-time: Working twice as hard or for twice the usual amount of time.

Explanation:

At the end of the day, the Man gathered the Horse, Dog, and Ox and expressed his sympathy for them. He regretted that they would have to bear the workload alone since the lazy Camel, referred to as the “Humph-thing,” was absent and unable to contribute. As a result, the Man instructed them to work double-time to compensate for the Camel’s lack of effort. This highlights the unfair burden placed on the diligent animals due to the Camel’s refusal to work.

Passage –

That made the Three very angry, and they held a panchayat on the edge of the Desert; and the Camel came chewing cud and laughed at them. Then he said “Humph!” and went away again.

Presently there came along the Djinn who was in charge of All Deserts, rolling in a cloud of dust.

“Djinn of All Deserts,” said the Horse, “is it right for anyone to be idle?”

“Certainly not,” said the Djinn.

“Well,” said the Horse, “there’s a thing in the middle of your Desert with a long neck and long legs, and he hasn’t done a stroke of work since Monday morning. He won’t trot.”

“Whew!” said the Djinn whistling, “that’s my Camel. What does he say about it?”

“He says ‘Humph!’, and he won’t plough,” said the Ox.

“Very good,” said the Djinn. “I’ll humph him if you will kindly wait a minute.”

Word Meanings:

• Panchayat: A council or assembly.
• Cud: Partly digested food that ruminants regurgitate to chew again.
• Djinn: A spirit with magical powers, capable of assuming various forms.
• Whew: An exclamation used to express surprise or relief.
• I’ll humph him: I’ll deal with him or set him right.

Explanation:

The Three were infuriated by the prospect of working double-time, so they convened a panchayat at the Desert’s edge. The Camel, chewing cud, mocked them with a laugh and a casual “Humph!” before leaving. Soon after, the Djinn of All Deserts appeared in a dust cloud.

The Horse asked the Djinn if idleness was acceptable, to which the Djinn replied that it was not. The Horse described the idle Camel—tall and long-legged—who hadn’t worked since Monday and refused to trot. Surprised, the Djinn recognized the Camel and inquired about its attitude. The Ox confirmed that the Camel merely said “Humph!” and wouldn’t even plough. The Djinn assured them that he would handle the situation, indicating he would set the Camel right.

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Passage –

The Djinn rolled himself up in his dust-cloak, and took a walk across the Desert, and found the Camel looking at his own reflection in a pool of water.

“My friend,” said the Djinn, “what’s this I hear of your doing no work?”

The Djinn sat down, with his chin in his hand, while the Camel looked at his own reflection in the pool of water.

“You’ve given the Three extra work ever since Monday morning, all on account of your idleness,” said the Djinn.

Word Meanings:

• Dust-cloak: A garment made from dust or sand, worn to protect against harsh desert conditions.
• Reflection: An image seen in a mirror or a reflective surface, in this case, water.

Explanation:

After speaking with the Three, the Djinn enveloped himself in his dust-cloak and strolled across the Desert until he found the Camel admiring his own reflection in a pool of water. The Djinn addressed the Camel, inquiring about the rumors of his refusal to work. While the Djinn settled down, resting his chin in his hand, the Camel remained fixated on his reflection. The Djinn pointed out that due to the Camel’s laziness, the Horse, the Dog, and the Ox have been burdened with extra work since Monday morning.

Passage –

And he went on thinking with his chin in his hand.

“Humph!” said the Camel.

“I shouldn’t say that again if I were you,” said the Djinn; “you might say it once too often. I want you to work.”

And the Camel said “Humph!” again; but no sooner had he said it than he saw his back, that he was so proud of, puffing up and puffing up into a great big hump.

Word Meanings:

• Puffing up: Becoming larger or more inflated.

Explanation:

While the Djinn pondered thoughtfully with his chin resting in his hand, the Camel responded with his signature “Humph!” The Djinn warned him to refrain from saying it again, suggesting that he might overuse the expression. He emphasized his desire for the Camel to start working instead. Ignoring the warning, the Camel repeated “Humph!” Once he uttered the word, he was startled to see his back swelling larger and larger, transforming into the very hump he had always been proud of.

Passage –

 “Do you see that?” said the Djinn. ‘‘That’s your very own humph that you’ve brought upon your very own self by not working. Today is Thursday, and you’ve done no work since Monday, when the work began. Now you are going to work.”

“How can I,” said the Camel, “with this humph on my back?”

‘‘That has a purpose,” said the Djinn, “all because you missed those three days. You will be able to work now for three days without eating, because you can live on your humph; and don’t you ever say I never did anything for you. Come out of the Desert and go to the Three, and behave.”

Explanation:

The Djinn pointed out the Camel’s hump, explaining that it was a consequence of his own laziness. It was Thursday, and the Camel had not worked since Monday when tasks began. The Djinn declared that it was now time for the Camel to start working. The Camel protested, questioning how he could work with such a large hump. The Djinn reassured him that the hump had a purpose: it would allow the Camel to go three days without food, as he could survive on the fat stored in his hump. The Djinn emphasized that he had indeed done something beneficial for the Camel. He instructed the Camel to leave the Desert and join the others in their work.

Passage –

And the Camel went away to join the Three. And from that day to this the Camel always wears a humph (we call it ‘hump’ now, not to hurt his feelings); but he has never yet caught up with the three days that he missed at the beginning of the world, and he has never yet learned how to behave.

Word Meanings:

• Caught up: To reach the same level or standard as others after falling behind.

Explanation:

The Camel finally joined the Horse, Dog, and Ox to work alongside them. Since that time, he has always carried his hump (referred to as “hump” to spare his feelings). However, despite his efforts, he has never managed to make up for the three days of work he missed at the beginning of creation. Additionally, the Camel has yet to learn proper behavior, indicating that his attitude remains unchanged.