The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-02-22
White Elephants.

The Indo- Chinese and Siamese call all
elephants with only a Jew light spots
upon them white elephants. One that
was a member of the Siamese court
many years ago was white merely on
the strength of its white eyes. Its body
was black. White elephants e. in
fact. merely albinos; white on account
of the lack of color particles in the up
per tissue of the skin, and, as in hu-
man beings, the hair and ewes, not the
skin. show the condition. Ii white ele-
plants had hair they would be wond r
full creatures, covered with long white
coat like the yak. They are often mot
tied, with a reddish eve and a scarlet
ring about It. A pure white one was
probably never seen.
Their history dates back to a very
early time in the East. Works by Chi
nese authors long before the time of
Christ refer to them as one of the won
ders of the world. and pictures are TO
lie seen in China in old works by Chi
nese artists showing the white elephant
worshiping the sun. The earliest relia-
be information. however, dates to the
year 1850, when MANY of the natives OF
the countries about Siam were enga ged
in long and bloody war over one of
these animals, and before it was ended
fifteen thousand soldiers were slain and
five kings-all over one white ele-
plant.
Probably the best authority on the
white elephant in our day was Sir John
Bowring, who was sent to Siam rs an
emissary from Queen Victoria, and of
whom it is told that on his return hewas
given a gold box. with gold key, con-
tanning gilt of the choicest description
from the King of Siam for her Majesty
the Queen. Upon opening the box in
stead O. jewels and gems. it was found
TO hold six hairs from the tail OF the
white elephant. esteemed the choicest
gift the King could oier. Sir John
SAYS that he has seen jews ran som
offered Tor few of such hairs. Equally
a compliment is it to be compared to
one of these animals, and when in Lon
don one of the siamese Ambassadors
thus referred to the Queen: Zone can
not but be struck with the aspect of the
august Queen of England or all t. OBJ
serve that she must be of pure descent
from a race of godly and warlike kings
and rulers of the earth, in that her eyes.
complexion. and. above all, her bea--
Ings are those of a majestic and beauti-
full white elephant"
According 10 sir John Bowring the
reason why the animal is SO revercneed
is because it is believed that Budha,
the divine emanat;on from the Deity,
must necessarily in his multitudinous
metamorphoses or transmits ons
through all eXistences and through mill
ions OF acons delight to abide tor S sme
tine in that grand incarnation of purity
which is REPRESENTED by the white ele-
phant While the bonzas teach that
there is no spot in the heavens above or
the earth below or the waters under the
earth which is not visited in the
peregrinations of the divinity-whose
erery.stage or step is toward purifica-
tion-they hold that his tarrying may
be longer in the white elephant tnan in
any other abode and that in the posses
sion OF the sacred creature they my
possess the presence of Budha him self.
Ii is known that the CiDgalese have
been kept in subsection by the belief
that their rulers have d tooth of Eudha
in the temple OF Handy, and that On
various tracts of the East impressi ms of
The foot OF Budha are revelenced and
are the oh. ects of weary pi'gri images to
pla es which can only be reached with
/ fficulty, but with the white elephant
some vague notions Of V tai Budha are
associated. and there can be no dou
5hat the marvellous gacity of the crea-
ture has served to strengthen their re
iigious prejudices. Siamese are known
10 whisper their secrets into an ele-
plants ear and to ask a solution of
their perplexities by some sign or move
ment And most assuredly there is more
sense and reason In the worship of an
intelligent beast than in that of stocks
and stones. the work of mems hands,
The feeling at the present day to-
wards these animals is still one of VEN
sration. especially among the lower
classes, though among the higher. the
mobiles, they are looked upon more in
the light of good luck. and the more
powerful king is the more white e!e-
plants be will have. Their association
with power is seen everywhere. The