About the Author
Rudyard Kipling was a British writer born in Bombay, India, in 1865. He grew up hearing fun tales from Indian storytellers. He loved creating stories with animals that talk and act like people. His famous books include The Jungle Book, about a boy raised by wolves. Kipling wrote many "Just So Stories" like this one, explaining how animals got their looks in a playful way. He won a big award for his writing in 1907. He lived in England later but always remembered India. He passed away in 1936, leaving behind tales that teach and entertain kids everywhere.
What’s the Story About?
This is a fun, old-style tale that explains why camels have a big lump on their back. It happened long ago, when the world was brand new and animals just started helping humans. Most animals were ready to work, but not the camel. He was the laziest creature ever! He lived all alone in a hot, sandy place called the Howling Desert. There, he munched on dry sticks, sharp thorns, and prickly plants. He did nothing but sit around all day, feeling proud and idle.
One fine Monday morning, the horse trotted up to the camel. The horse had a saddle on his back and was ready for a busy day. "Camel, oh Camel," he said, "come out and trot like the rest of us." But the camel just looked at him lazily and grunted, "Humph!" He didn't move an inch.
Next came the dog, carrying a stick in his mouth, all set to fetch things. "Camel, oh Camel, come and fetch and carry like me." Again, the camel replied with a bored "Humph!" and kept chewing.
Then the ox arrived, with a heavy yoke around his neck for pulling plows. "Camel, oh Camel, come plow the fields like I do." You guessed it—the camel said "Humph!" once more and ignored him.
The three animals—horse, dog, and ox—got really upset. They went to complain to the man, their boss. The man listened and said, "Well, since the camel won't help, you three will have to work extra hard to make up for it." Now the animals were even more angry at the lazy camel.
Later, the three friends met in the desert and grumbled about their problem. Suddenly, a magic spirit called the Djinn of All Deserts appeared. He rolled in like a swirling cloud of dust on a magic carpet. "What's wrong?" he asked. They told him all about the camel who wouldn't work.
The Djinn flew off to find the camel, who was staring at his own reflection in a pool of water, looking very pleased with himself. "Camel," said the Djinn, "I've heard you're not working like the others. Why?" The camel just said "Humph!" again.
The Djinn warned him, "You'll be sorry if you don't change." But the camel didn't care and said "Humph!" one more time. That's when the Djinn used his magic. He chanted a spell, and poof! The camel's flat back started to swell up. It grew into a big, ugly hump!
"There," said the Djinn. "Now you have a hump. It stores food and water, so you can work for three days straight without eating. That's because you wasted three days being lazy. Now go join the others and do your share!"
From that day, the camel had to work like everyone else, with his new hump. But he never made up for those three lost days. And that's why camels today can go long without food or water—but they still look grumpy, as if remembering their lazy past. The story ends with a wink, reminding us to stay busy and helpful.
Who’s Who in the Story
- The Camel: The super lazy main animal. He lives in the desert, says "Humph!" to everyone, and refuses to work. He ends up with a hump as a lesson.
- The Horse: A hardworking friend with a saddle. He asks the camel to trot and help but gets ignored.
- The Dog: Another busy animal who carries sticks. He tries to get the camel to fetch things like him.
- The Ox: A strong worker with a yoke. He wants the camel to plow fields but fails.
- The Man: The boss of all animals. He makes the others work more when the camel won't help.
- The Djinn: A powerful magic spirit of the deserts. He appears like a dust storm and gives the camel his hump to teach him a lesson.
Themes and Moral
Themes (Big Ideas):
- Laziness and Its Results: The story shows how being idle hurts others and brings trouble to yourself.
- Fairness in Work: Everyone should do their part to keep things balanced, like in a team.
- Magic and Fun Explanations: It uses magic to explain real things in nature, like why animals look a certain way.
Moral (Lesson):
Don't be lazy and avoid your duties, or life will find a way to make you learn the hard way. Always help others and work hard—it keeps everyone happy and fair.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
- Humph!: A short, grumpy noise meaning "I don't care" or "Leave me alone." (Like a sigh when you're annoyed.)
- Howling Desert: A wild, windy sandy area that makes loud noises like cries. (A hot, empty place full of sand storms.)
- Saddle: A seat made of leather put on a horse's back for riding. (Helps people sit comfortably while the horse moves.)
- Yoke: A wooden frame around an ox's neck to pull heavy things like plows. (Like a harness for hard work.)
- Fetch and carry: To go get things and bring them back. (What dogs do in games or work.)
- Djinn: A magic creature from old tales, like a genie who can grant wishes or cast spells. (A spirit with great power.)
- Puff up: To suddenly grow bigger, like blowing air into a balloon. (What happened to the camel's back.)
- Idle: Not doing any work, just sitting around. (Being lazy and wasting time.)
- Make up for: To fix something you missed, like working extra after skipping days. (The camel never did this for his lost time.)
These words add fun to the story. Say "Humph!" out loud and feel like the camel!