Amanda in Arabia: The Perfume Flask Read Free

swimming Leah and Amanda walked on the beach and collected shells. “Did the man in the shop really say that the perfume carafe used to belong to a princess?” asked Leah.
    â€œYes, that’s what he said and I believe him,” replied Amanda.
    â€œWell, I once heard about a Bedouin princess who was stolen from her family by another tribe. She escaped and traveled many miles across the desert and through the mountains to return home.” Leah picked up a white shell that glowed iridescent in the sun. It looked perfect until she turned it over and saw that a small, round hole was bored into the underside. She gave a grunt of annoyance as she tossed it back down.
    â€œDid she get home OK?” Amanda stopped in her tracks and stared at her new friend.
    â€œI’m not sure. I never really heard the end of the story, besides it was along time ago.” Leah found another of the white shells and this time it was unblemished. She added it to the small sack she carried around her neck before adding, “Those things don’t happen anymore.”

Chapter 4
    â€œUncle Ben, when can I ride a camel?” asked Amanda a couple of days later.
    â€œHow about right now? I have the day off. I could take you to a camel ranch and see if they will let you ride,” Uncle Ben put down the paper he had been reading and went into the hall to fetch his keys and hat. “Let’s go.”
    â€œReally? Right now? That’s super!” Amanda jumped off her chair and ran towards the door. Her aunt caught her just in time to put a hat on her head and shove a bottle of water in her hand.
    Amanda was so excited she could hardly sit still as they drove along the narrow dusty road that led to the camel ranch. “Do they raise the camels on the ranch and sell them to the local people to ride?”
    â€œOh no,” replied her uncle as he slowed down for a deep pothole. “No one uses camels for transportation anymore. Everyone owns a vehicle now to get around and they transport things by truck or jeep. They no longer need camels to get to where they’re going.”
    â€œSo what are they used for then?”
    â€œWell, they are now used mostly for racing. Camel racing is very popular in the Emirates. They are also used for the tourist industry. Lots of people, like you, want to ride a camel at least once in their lifetime.” Uncle Ben waved at a driver coming from the opposite direction. Amanda wasn’t sure if her uncle knew a lot of people or if they were just all so friendly they waved at everyone. “Camels have an easy life now, most just wander around and nibble on the trees.”
    â€œIs that all they do? Then why have a camel ranch?”
    â€œThey do raise them for food as well.”
    â€œYuck, you mean they eat them?” She was horrified.
    â€œIn Canada cows are raised for food. How is that any different?”
    â€œYeah, I guess,” she mumbled. Somehow it didn’t seem quite the same to a city girl like Amanda. “Oh – oh – I think I see some now!” A long line of camels, following each other nose–to–tail, were seen in the distance.
    â€œThat’s called a camel train,” replied her uncle as he brought his vehicle to a stop in a cloud of dust. “And here we are at the ranch.”
    Amanda waited in the Cherokee as her uncle spoke to a couple of men wearing bright red and white checkered headdresses. They looked over at the truck and smiled at her, nodding their heads and gesturing with their hands. Uncle Ben came over to the jeep and told her she was in luck, they had a camel she could ride.
    The two men led them over to a pen where three camels lounged about. They caught a sandy–coloured one by the reins and led him out to the open yard. Up close, the camel was much bigger than she had ever imagined. He was odd looking, with his long legs, skinny body, big head and large, hairy hump. His head looked too