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B.2 Camels and General Carriers
In far-western New South Wales during the late 19th Century camels were
synonymous with general carriage. Although bullocks and horses were
used, the camel was by far the most reliable draught animal. In most years
there was a shortage of water and feed along transportation routes.
Camels could travel further without water than the alternate draught
animals, and would eat a more broad range of forage.
Despite their utility, camels were barred from the Milparinka Common. The
rules of Milparinka Common were framed to incorporate the motion passed
at the meeting of trustees on 24 April 1891 - 'That all camels be excluded
from Milparinka Common. That persons in charge of camels travelling on
the road leading through Milparinka Common shall give the herdsman
twenty-four hours notice of his intention to enter upon such common with
his camels. That any infringement of the two foregoing rules in regard to
camels shall subject the person so infringing to a penalty not exceeding ten
pounds' (Sturt Recorder 10 September 1898:2).
In Chapter 1 mention was made of the 'Afghans' as a group within the
community at Milparinka about which little historical information has been
identified. That which has been accumulated is concerned almost
exclusively about their involvement with transportation and hawking, and in
particular with their use of camels as 'beasts of burden'.
In the late 1890s several articles appeared in the Sturt Recorder
highlighting the problems created by camels. Because of rules such as
those applying to Milparinka Common, the cameleers had a restricted
choice as to where they could camp. As the Wanaaring mail coach came
across a string of camels camped on the road for the night the road
reserves were clearly one of the options adopted for overnight stops. On
this particular occasion the horses, which react badly to camels at the best
of times, bolted. It took the coach driver about four miles to bring the
horses under control. (Sturt Recorder 10 September 1898:3)
String camels or 'camel trains' were used extensively to carry wool. This
means of transport was relatively inexpensive, and in 1896 the Bourke
Carrying Company, which at one time owned 879 camels, was formed
specifically to carry wool from stations in the far west
(Rajkowski,1987:111). Rajkowski suggests The Bourke Carrying Company
was a joint venture between Abdul Wadi (later 'Wade') and the Pastoralists
Union. Because Milparinka was at the junction of several routes leading
from these remote stations to railheads and river ports, the town was
subjected to visits by large numbers of string camels. The camel drivers
continued to bring their charges onto Milparinka Common without giving
'the proper notice'. Mahommet Droze brought thirty-two camels onto the
common on 17 November 1898 without notice (Sturt Recorder, 26
November 1898:2). This was a small number by comparison to the
hundred and seven which had passed through the town en route for