# The Camel — Just So Stories character guide

> The Camel in Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Camel, O Camel

**First appearance:** 0001-how-the-camel-got-his-hump

## Snapshot

A supremely idle desert creature whose only answer to honest work is 'Humph!' until the Djinn grants him a hump to match his attitude.

## Who they are

When the world is new-and-all and every animal has a job, the Camel sits in the middle of the Howling Desert chewing milkweed and refusing to trot, fetch, or plough. Horse, Dog, and Ox each appeal to him in turn and each receives the same lazy 'Humph!' which forces them to work double-time. The Djinn in charge of All Deserts takes up their complaint, and his Great Magic turns the Camel's own word against him, making his idleness visible on his back for always.

## Relationships

### [The Djinn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_so_stories_se/characters/the_djinn)

_rivalry_

The Camel is lazy and defiant toward The Djinn, who punishes him by giving him a hump for his insolence.

### [The Djinn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_so_stories_se/characters/the_djinn)

_rivalry_

The Camel is lazy and defiant toward The Djinn, who punishes him by giving him a hump for his insolence.

## In the story

### [How the Camel Got His Hump](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_so_stories_se/chapters/how-the-camel-got-his-hump)

The idle Camel who refuses to work and only says 'Humph!', ultimately receiving a hump as punishment.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_so_stories_se/characters/the_camel
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_so_stories_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_so_stories_se/characters