History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c37.s1.t4.6

v1.c37.s1.t4.6

The Arabs, according to Herodotus, had cow hides and other skins stitched together to form a pipe long enough to reach from the river Corys to the desert route in three separate places and then filled them with water for the troops. Another version of supplying the troops with water was that of filling camel skins loaded on to live animal. Carrying water in skins bag on camel back is quite ancient and common even today in Indian deserts.