The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-10-21
Animals and Birds of Siam.

~AAAHAasAS ana x11T08 OF siam.
The animal kingdom is well represented
in Siam. The first rank is represented by
the elephant, which plays an important
part in Siam, and is, indeed, indispensable,
owing to the nature Of the ground. There
are hardly any horses, and, indeed, thew
could not visit on the narshy soil and in
the jungles, which render it an impossible.
ity to lay down highways. If a person
wishes to travel into the interior, he can
only do so in boats, on the river, or on ee
phants. The latter easily force their way
through the thick scrub by either tramp
ling down the branches in their path, or
removing them with their trunks. They
wade through marshes on their knees.
guage the depth Of fords with their trunks.
so long as they feel the bottom, and when
they lose their footing they swim through
deep water with their trunk held aloft.-
Their soft feet enable them to descend the
most precipitous ravines, and they climb
heights with equal ease by the aid of their
trunk. When well fed, they will march
for twenty hours without stoppipg and
cover an extraordinary distance. When
the elephant is tired it beats the ground
with its trunk, and utters a trum pet-lke
note; when it has resumed its strength it
kneels down to take its rider or its load on
its back again. The elephant also plays
chief part in wars, and behaves not ONLY
passively but actively in fight, for at the
bidding of the mahout it storms houses
AMI palisades, and hnrls down and tram
Piles on the foe. We can easily understand
therefore, why the elephant is so highly
esteemed in Siam. The king has strictly
prohibited the capture of wild elephants,
and holds it as monopoly. The provincial
governors effect their capture annually by
the help Of female elephants, viii IN are
driven into the forest and lead the wild males
at the sound of trumpet into a fenced
enclosure, the gate Of which shuts after
them. The male elephants are then al
lowed to starve for few days, and are fas.
tened to post with moose. When ex-
hausted by hunger, they are fed with sugar
cane, their favorite fare, and some peculiar
herbs, which render them tame in a few
days.
White elephants are venerated almost
like deities in Siam, as indeed are all white
animals, because, according to the Buddhs
tic theories, the Buddhas, on the transmit.
grafton of souls, change themselves into
Albions, and principally into white elc-
plants. The fortunate discoverer of a
white elephant, which in reality is not
white; but chocolate -colore1. is rewarded in
prlncely manner, because such animals
are rarely found. The animal is brought
with great pomp from its place of capture
to the capital, where it is solemnly received
by the king and the highest d ignitaries,
and conducted to its stable. Here the ele.
phant is waited upon by a large body of
attendants, and fed with all possible dain.
ties out Of gold and silver vessels. His
head and trunk are decorated with golden
ornoments, the Talapoins pray in it's pres
cnce, and royal physician pays attention
to its health. Should . sacred elephant
die. roysl honors are paid to its corpse.
After the elephant, the Buffalo is highly
esteemed by the Siamese IS beast of bur-
den and draught. 1t is used for ploughing.
treadlng out corn, and turning the sugar
mill. The country is very rich in these
animals, and buffalo. hides aud horns form
very considerable branch of export
Among the domestic animals only pigs
and poultry are kept. Although tho street
swarms with dogs, they are masterless, Is
IN Turkey, and hence cannot be regarded
in the light of domestic animals.
There is of course no lack Of savage and
predaceous animals in Siam. The rivers
and swamps are populated by crocodiles
and rhinoceroses, the forests by tigers,
bears and deer Of various description. In
spite of the Buddhistic prohibitions, the
Samese chase the latter animals energetic.
ally, and generally kill them with fire. arms,
which any man is allowed to possess
Their rhinoceros huntngis remarkably dar.
ing and peculiar. Armed with a bamboo
stake, pointed and hardened in the fire.
they proceed in parties OF three or four
into the jungles, where they startle the an.
imals with shouts and yells. As the rh,.
nocelos does not fly, but rushes feroc'ously
at its assailants with widely opened Jaws,
the brave Siamese wait for this moment