Carrying water

Early photographs such as those of the Elder Exploring Expedition of 1891–1892 show camels carrying wooden water casks. During the 1890s firms such as Simpson and Company began manufacturing galvanised-iron water tanks for camel transport. These enabled cameleers to sustain themselves and their men during long desert trips, and were used for carting water during construction projects or for drought-stricken stock. Some cameleers are known to have buried large metal water tanks to act as reservoirs, holding water for use in dry spells.