This book contains the following story:
"How the Camel Got His Hump" is a short story by Rudyard Kipling, part of his collection of children's stories known as "Just So Stories," published in 1902. This whimsical tale explains how the camel acquired its distinctive hump. Here's a plot summary:
Setting: The story is set in a time long ago when all animals could speak and had different physical attributes.
Plot:
The Lazy Camel: In the early days, the camel was a very lazy and idle creature. While all the other animals were working hard, the camel would refuse to do any work and would simply say, "Humph!" when asked to contribute.
The Animals' Complaint: The other animals grew tired of the camel's laziness and decided to take the matter to the Djinn, a supernatural being who could grant wishes. They complained to the Djinn about the camel's refusal to work and asked for a solution.
The Djinn's Decision: The Djinn summoned the camel and asked him why he was so lazy. The camel replied that he had no desire to work and preferred to be idle. The Djinn decided to teach the camel a lesson and granted him a hump to carry on his back.
The Camel's Transformation: As soon as the camel received his hump, he found it to be heavy and burdensome. The Djinn explained that the hump was designed to store water and food, allowing the camel to go for long periods without eating or drinking while working. However, the camel still had to carry the weight of the hump.
Learning the Value of Work: The camel quickly realized the benefits of having a hump, as it enabled him to endure long journeys across the desert without stopping for sustenance. He learned that work had its rewards and became a diligent and hardworking creature, no longer saying "Humph!" to work.
The Moral of the Story: The Djinn's lesson taught the camel the value of work and transformed him from a lazy creature into one of the hardest workers in the animal kingdom. The other animals appreciated the change, and the camel became a useful and respected member of the animal community.
The story of "How the Camel Got His Hump" is a playful and imaginative explanation of a distinctive feature of the camel's anatomy. It also carries a moral lesson about the importance of work and responsibility, illustrating how challenges and responsibilities can transform a lazy individual into a productive and valued member of society.
