How the Camel Got His Hump

Once, a long time ago, when the world was still new, there was a Camel.

The Camel lived in the middle of the desert. He did not like doing work. He did not like doing anything.

When anyone spoke to him, he just said, 'Humph.'

That was all. Just 'Humph.'

One morning, Horse came clip-clopping over. 'Camel,' said Horse, 'come and trot with me.'

'Humph,' said the Camel.

Horse went away.

Then Dog came trot-trotting over. 'Camel,' said Dog, 'come and fetch sticks with me.'

'Humph,' said the Camel.

Dog went away.

Then Ox came plod-plodding over. 'Camel,' said Ox, 'come and pull the plough with me.'

'Humph,' said the Camel.

Ox went away.

By the end of the day, Horse and Dog and Ox were very tired. They had done all the Camel's work, and their own work too.

Then along came the Djinn. A Djinn is a bit of magic that lives in the desert. He rolled up in a cloud of dust.

'Camel,' said the Djinn, 'why won't you help?'

'Humph,' said the Camel.

'Don't say that again,' said the Djinn.

'HUMPH,' said the Camel.

And pop — a big round bump grew right up on the Camel's back. A great, wobbly, humphy hump.

'That,' said the Djinn, 'is your Humph. You will carry it always. And now — off you go to help.'

So the Camel went off to help, humph and all.

And that's why every camel, even today, has a hump on his back. Right where the Djinn put it.