How the Camel Got His Hump

Long ago, the world was brand new. A big Camel lived alone in the desert. He did not want to work. He had one answer for everyone: 'Humph!'

One morning, a Horse trotted up with a saddle on his back. 'Camel, come and trot for the Man like the rest of us,' said the Horse. 'Humph!' said the Camel, and the Horse went away.

Next came a Dog, carrying a stick in his mouth. 'Camel, come and fetch for the Man like the rest of us,' said the Dog. 'Humph!' said the Camel, and the Dog went away.

Then the Ox walked up, wearing a big yoke on his neck. 'Camel, come and plow for the Man like the rest of us,' said the Ox. 'Humph!' said the Camel, and the Ox went away.

The Horse, the Dog, and the Ox told the Man what happened. The Man asked them to work extra hard. They were upset, and they met at the desert's edge.

Just then, a magical Djinn swept down in a cloud of dust. The three friends told him about the Camel. The Djinn nodded and set off to find him.

The Djinn found the Camel by a shiny pool. The Camel was staring at his own face in the water. 'Why won't you work?' asked the Djinn. 'Humph!' said the Camel.

The Djinn gave a kind warning: 'Do not say that again.' But the Camel said 'Humph!' one last time. At once, something magical began to happen.

The Camel's back puffed up into a big round hump. It had grown from all his lazy days. The Camel stared at his reflection in the pool, very surprised.

The Djinn smiled. 'Your hump will help you work for three whole days. Now go join the others!' The Camel stood tall and walked out of the desert.

The Camel trotted over to the Horse, the Dog, and the Ox. He joined their work at last. The evening felt warm and still.

And that is why camels carry a hump to this very day. It is always good to help.