Rudyard Kipling

How the Camel Got His Hump

Wie das Kamel zu seinem Höcker kam

When the world is new and the Animals are just beginning to work for Man, an idle Camel stays in the middle of a Howling Desert and answers every request with ‘Humph!’ The Horse, Dog, and Ox must work double-time, grow angry, and appeal to the Djinn in charge of All Deserts.

B110 minAudio

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How it begins

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Now this is the next tale, and it tells how the Camel got his big hump.

Dies ist nun die nächste Geschichte, und sie erzählt, wie das Kamel zu seinem großen Höcker kam.

In the beginning of years, when the world was so new and all, and the Animals were just beginning to work for Man, there was a Camel, and he lived in the middle of a Howling Desert because he did not want to work; and besides, he was a Howler himself.

Am Anfang der Zeiten, als die Welt noch so neu war und alles, und die Tiere gerade erst anfingen, für den Menschen zu arbeiten, da gab es ein Kamel, und es lebte mitten in einer heulenden Wüste, weil es nicht arbeiten wollte; und außerdem war es selbst ein Heuler.

So he ate sticks and thorns and tamarisks and milkweed and prickles, most ‘scruciating idle; and when anybody spoke to him he said ‘Humph!’ Just ‘Humph!’ and no more.

Also fraß es Stöcke und Dornen und Tamarisken und Wolfsmilch und Stacheln, höchst qualvoll faul; und wenn ihn jemand ansprach, sagte es: „Humph!“ Einfach nur „Humph!“ und nichts weiter.

The opening paragraphs, as the reader shows them. Read on

Languages

How the Camel Got His Hump · English (original)B1 Intermediate · 1,077 words · ~10 min · Audio
Wie das Kamel zu seinem Höcker kam · GermanB1 Intermediate · 1,082 words · ~10 min · Audio
Πώς η καμήλα απέκτησε την καμπούρα της · GreekB1 Intermediate · 1,067 words · ~10 min
Cómo le salió la joroba al Camello · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 1,075 words · ~10 min · Audio
Comment le Chameau eut sa bosse · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 1,190 words · ~10 min · Audio
ऊँट को उसका कूबड़ कैसे मिला · HindiB1 Intermediate · 1,193 words · ~10 min
Bagaimana Unta Mendapatkan Punuknya · IndonesianB1 Intermediate · 919 words · ~10 min
Come il Cammello si fece la gobba · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 1,019 words · ~10 min
ラクダのこぶはどうしてできたか · JapaneseB1 Intermediate
낙타는 어떻게 혹을 갖게 되었을까 · KoreanB1 Intermediate · 767 words · ~5 min
Hoe de kameel aan zijn bult kwam · DutchB1 Intermediate · 1,124 words · ~10 min
Jak wielbłąd dostał swój garb · PolishB1 Intermediate · 941 words · ~10 min
Como o Camelo Ganhou a Sua Corcova · PortugueseB1 Intermediate · 1,090 words · ~10 min
Cum și-a căpătat Cămila cocoașa · RomanianB1 Intermediate · 1,060 words · ~10 min
Deve Hörgücünü Nasıl Aldı · TurkishB1 Intermediate · 791 words · ~5 min
Lạc đà đã có bướu như thế nào · VietnameseB1 Intermediate · 1,461 words · ~10 min
骆驼怎样长出了驼峰 · ChineseB1 Intermediate

Questions

Which languages can I read How the Camel Got His Hump in?

English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.

What level is it?

The original English is B1 Intermediate. In translation, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.

How long is it?

About 1,077 words: around 5–10 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.

Is it free?

Yes. Read it online with no account. The downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.

Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?

Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.

How the Camel Got His Hump

How it begins

Languages

Questions

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