This probably isn’t hard to imagine, but before automobiles and airplanes existed, deserts were difficult to traverse. When the growing United States acquired the arid lands gained through the Gadsen Purchase and Mexican Cession of 1848, most Americans were in uncharted territory when it came to traversing large deserts. The solution? Camels! Hadji Ali, an immigrant from modern-day Jordan, was hired to drive the camels across the American desert- but became a living legend instead.
Hi Jolly’s Story Begins
When the United States acquired the Western U.S. after the Mexican-American War, the Army hurried to establish outposts in what was then called “The Great American Desert.” However, it didn’t take long for the Department of the Army to realize supplying these outposts was incredibly difficult and costly. Americans weren’t used to moving supplies through deserts, so when Secretary of War Jefferson Davis (yes, that one) suggested that camels be used, the idea was accepted. People off the street of Constantinople, many of whom had no experience with camels at all, were recruited to join the newly formed Camel Corps. One man who was recruited and that did have experience with camels was Hi Jolly, who was named head camel driver.
Hi Jolly Helps Introduce Camels To America
And by the way, the name “Hi Jolly” comes from the American mispronunciation of his actual name, which was Haji Ali. Apparently Ali was too kind to correct them and so history recorded “Hi Jolly” as his official name- it’s even on his gravesite. The camels were generally successful in their task, outperforming horses in moving goods across wide country and rivers. Despite their usefulness, the American Civil War (as well as the camels’ propensity to scare the mules and horses) led them to quickly forget the Camel Corps, and it eventually disbanded.
After the dissolution of the Camel Corps, Hi Jolly bought two camels for himself and let the rest run free in the desert. Although there has been a persistent rumor that wild camels roam the deserts of Arizona, the last of these liberated Arizona camels was shot in the late 1890’s by a farmer who caught one eating the plants in his garden. There were, however, camel sightings in Texas up until the 1940’s. Hi Jolly served the American government as a scout and guide for over 30 years, became a U.S. citizen, and living the rest of his life in Quartzsite, Arizona before passing away in 1902. The Arizona Highway Department erected a pyramid-shaped monument to him that sports a copper camel, and it continues to draw visitors to this day.
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This article is part of a series on Arizona’s Amazing Roadside Attractions
