That's a good story and one I wasn't aware of, except for the Dodge aspect.

The first explorers here realise quickly that horses sucked for the inland areas, arid and deserts mainly, and brough. Mel's and their cameleers from Afghanistan for the job. That worked. Only, they turned them loose, they bred up, and now we have over a million camels in the interior of the country. (there's no one there to eat them).

They are a bit of a problem and are culled now and then, but generally they live a good life.

One can have camel steak here, in the NT (Northern Territory) and I have personally. It's actually not too bad at all.

Anyway, thanks for the good story. Interesting really. I feel a bit sorry for old Ali though, getting dumped like that.