muffled

being or made softer or less loud or clear; "the dull boom of distant breaking waves"; "muffled drums"; "the muffled noises of the street"; "muted trumpets"

She could not understand how the camels whose grunts should have come to her ears had been silenced or muffled.

She could not understand how the camels whose grunts should have come to her ears had been silenced or muffled.