How the Camel Got His Hump by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) is one of the most widely read authors of the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, best remembered for The Jungle Book and his Nobel Prize–winning contributions to literature. Among his most charming works for children is the collection Just So Stories (1902), a series of imaginative tales that explain, in whimsical fashion, how certain animals came to look or behave as they do. One of the best-loved of these stories is How the Camel Got His Hump.

The Origins of the Tale

Kipling wrote the Just So Stories originally for his daughter Josephine, to whom he would tell these bedtime tales “just so,” repeating them exactly word-for-word whenever she requested them. Their playful, rhythmic style and inventive explanations reflect both Kipling’s gift for storytelling and his sensitivity to a child’s delight in pattern and repetition.

The story of the camel is a perfect example: humorous, moralistic, and richly imaginative.

Summary of the Story

The tale begins “in the beginning of years, when the world was so new-and-all.” The animals have just been put to work by Man: the Horse must trot, the Dog must fetch and carry, and the Ox must plough. But the Camel, who lives in the desert, refuses to do anything. Instead, he responds to every request with a disdainful “Humph!”

The other animals, frustrated, complain to Man that the Camel is not doing his share of the work. Man agrees and says that the Camel will have to make up for it. But before this happens, the Djinn in charge of All Deserts appears. The animals tell the Djinn about the Camel’s laziness, and the Djinn goes to confront him.

When the Camel again says only “Humph!”, the Djinn decides to teach him a lesson. With a magical word, he makes a great hump grow on the Camel’s back. The Djinn explains that the hump will allow the Camel to work longer without eating, since it stores what he has missed. From now on, the Camel must work, and he will carry the hump forever as the price for his laziness.

Thus Kipling gives us his playful explanation of how camels came to have their humps.

Themes and Morals

On the surface, the story is a humorous “origin myth,” a tall tale that imagines why camels look the way they do. But as with many fables, there are deeper lessons:

• The consequences of idleness: The Camel refuses to work, and his punishment is to carry a permanent reminder of his laziness.

• Fairness and justice: The other animals must not suffer because of the Camel’s refusal; balance must be restored.

• The blending of play and instruction: Kipling offers children a fun way to learn that laziness has consequences, while delighting them with the absurd idea of a talking Camel who says only “Humph.”

Style and Language

One of the pleasures of How the Camel Got His Hump is its language. Kipling’s repetitions (“Humph!”) and playful phrases (“the world was so new-and-all”) give the story a musical rhythm. The figure of the Djinn adds a touch of exotic mystery, tying the story to Arabian folklore and the deserts where camels roam.

The tale, like all the Just So Stories, is highly visual. Kipling even provided his own illustrations, which became part of the story’s enduring charm.

Place in Just So Stories

How the Camel Got His Hump is one of the earliest tales in the Just So Stories, standing alongside other memorable pieces such as How the Elephant Got His Trunk and How the Leopard Got His Spots. Collectively, these stories form a modern set of myths, written with humor and imagination, echoing the way ancient cultures explained natural phenomena.

For children, the stories are delightful nonsense. For adults, they are witty parables about human behavior, presented through animals. The Camel’s stubborn “Humph!” is a recognizable caricature of laziness and refusal, something any parent or teacher might recognize in children.

Legacy and Adaptations

Since its publication, How the Camel Got His Hump has been retold and adapted in countless formats — illustrated children’s editions, radio broadcasts, stage plays, and animations. The story’s simplicity makes it highly adaptable, while its humor and moral continue to resonate.

The tale also holds an important place in literary history: it shows Kipling’s ability to merge folklore, fable, and modern children’s literature. Alongside Aesop’s fables and Grimm’s fairy tales, the Just So Stories have become part of the global canon of children’s storytelling.

Why It Still Matters

Even over a century later, the story retains its appeal. It shows the power of imagination to answer simple questions (“Why does a camel have a hump?”) with delightfully creative explanations. It also reflects the enduring human need for stories that both entertain and instruct.

For children, the Camel is funny, obstinate, and memorable. For adults, the tale offers a playful reminder of responsibility and the importance of doing one’s share. In blending humor, rhythm, and moral clarity, Kipling created a story that continues to live in classrooms, nurseries, and libraries worldwide.

How the Camel Got His Hump is a small masterpiece of children’s literature. With wit and rhythm, Kipling transforms a simple question into a timeless fable, balancing entertainment with gentle moral instruction. The Camel’s eternal “Humph!” reminds us all — young and old — that work avoided today may return tomorrow in unexpected form.