The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-29
The siamese White Elephants

Professor Henry n. Waru, the eminent
biologist and naturalist of Rochester
the maker of Wards casts, writes to the
Democrat from Siam a description of his
travels In his letter he gives the fol-
lowing account of the white elephants OF
the King:
"Of course 1 did not leave the kings
palace without going to see his famous
white elephants, of which he now possess
es FIVE. They are in long block OF
buildings at the rear Of the arsenal.
Here each elephant has an entire, dis
tinct stable appointed to it's use, with the
sleeping apartments of its score of grooms
and feeders in one end The stable is
large high hall, with plain floor and
walls, and at one end small seated
Buddha image with little lamps burning
in front. The great beast stands on a
handsomely built pedestal, raised about
foot from the floor, with its top just
large enough to hold him. On one side
of this, near the front and the rear, are
two high, stout posts, gilded and other
wise gaudily ornate To these the royal
captive is chained with velvet-covered
ropes by one fore and one hind leg. He
stands proudly yet restlessly on his con
tracted throne, and lashes his trunk and
sways his heavy head and tusks around
in an imperious, lordly manner, trumpe-
ting now and then until the whole hall
trembles with the deafening reverberat-
ion. His keepers are very attentive
and constantly deal out to him dainty
mouthfuls of bananas, pneapples, short
sticks of sugar cane, and little bundles
of sweet, fresh grass from a huge pile of
these which is heaped near by. Every
one of his wants is assiduously attended
to; when he is seen to itch in any part
of his body his royal hide is promptly
scratched with a small iron rake-like in
strument with long handle; his eyes are
reYerently wiped and he has a cool
sponge bath every hour or two of day
and night during the hot season. Over
the door of each stable is large richly
ornamented sign of gold letters, giving
the inmates full regal name and title.
This the guide reads to you in reverentiy
hushed breath indeed, these names, like
that of the king, it is not proper for any
Siamese to speak aloud.
Nothing can equal the veneration of
this people for the white elephant; the
king must have at least one as a palla-
dunn for his own life and the prosperity
of the empire. The real cause Of this
reverence for the great albino pachyderm
is that he is supposed to be the incarna-
ton either of some past or of some future
Buddha, and will, therefore, bring bless
ings on the country which possesses and
ohoI isles 50 great treasure. limo woo
when tn, Sc beas we July worsLipped
by king and people; their stables were
palaces; they were fed from golden
dishes, and wore heavy gold rings upon
their tusks and were fettered with golden
chains. Even now the populace fall
with their heads tc the ground as they
are led out richly caparisoned on state
occasions, while the royal officers and
even the king himself always make them
obeisance in passing. The finder of a
white elephant is loaded with honors and
emoluments, taking his place at one step
among the mobiles of the kingdom They
come from the Laos territory far to the
north, and are brought down the river
on RATS magnificently decked out and
accompanied by guards of honor and
bands of music. AT Aguthia, sixty miles
up the river, they are met by the king
with his entire royal retlnue, who In the
grandly adorned state barges follow the
noble beast to its future home, with great
parade and rejoicing.
1t is late moment for me to state
that these white elephants have not at
all the fulness or the depth of that color
which we usually understand, or which
the adjective demands. Over most OF
their body they have the dull muddy
lead-color common to this beast Only
In spots upon their legs and in patches
on shoulders, neck, sides Of head and in.
side Of ears the skin is of dirty cream
color, not quite pleasant to look at, be-
sides being abundantly splashed with
coarse freckles. No one would think OF
calling them white One only of their
number, the fifth and last one obtained.
IS of faint brick red over his entire
body, which gives him an odd and not
altogether unpleasant appearance. He
IS, moreover young, lively, and good
natured, and salaams by raising his trunk
straight and high above his head to ali
well-dressed visitors in way which quite
scandaizes his keepers, who have taught
all the others to reserve that salute solely
for the king. Were he not himself too
royal to be whipped, dare say that this
merry pachyderm might soon be taught
to raoOopi1o tbo boro,- ro-or,,oJ b. -.