The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-02-22
SACRED WHITE ELEPHANTS.
THE ANIMAL THAT IS woRsHIPED
IN THE EAST.
Made n Member of the Royal Family
It's Capture and Life-Buriai
Cerem0nies.

1t is the general impression that the
white elephant is specifically different
from others, but this is not the case. OF
the fourteen or more various elephants
that formerly existed in this country,
Europe and Africa, only two, the African
and Asiatic, are alive to-day, and white
elephants are likely to occur among
either. Albinism, however, occurs more
frequently among the Indian races than
any other, and it is merely the result of
the absence of the minute particles of
coloring matter that the microscope
shows us in the lowest layer of the cpl
dermis, or what we call outer skin, that
is, the color-giving layer.
Albinos have always been regarded
with superstition in the East especially
are white monkeys reverenced, and rec
ords from the earliest times contain men
ton of them. The common white ami
mails were priced, and quite naturally the
rare ones were reverenced by people
among whom superstition has reigned
for centuries, and so it comes that the
possession of these creatures is consid-
cred the greatest possible honor. 1t is
said that the king of Ava is called the
Lord of the White Elephants" and
considers it one of his proudest titles.
Twelve years ago the king of Siam at
Bangkok received intelligence that a
baby white elephant had been captured
in the northeastern portion of British
Burmah, in the vicinity of Tounghoo.
1t was brought to the capital with mag
nifcence and pomp, and nursed on the
way and later by twelve native women
selected especially for the honor. Even
under this treatment the infant died, and
the nation went into mourning, all occu-
pations ceasing for several days, and the
entire populace shaving their heads.
Such attention is not surprising when
it is realized that the white elephant, be
he mottled, yellow, brown, or gray, is
considered and looked upon as mem
Der of the royal family, ranking next to
the queen. AS matter of course, less
important officials and dignitaries are
anxious to claim relationship to it; hence
the king of Cambodia calls himself the
'First Cousin of the White Elephant; -
the prime minister of Siam, the General
of the Elephants" The king of Burmah
is styled the Lord of the Celestial Ele-
phant," the king of Siam the "Master of
Many White Elephants, " and the foreign
minister of Cochin China Mandarin of
Elephants" which, in fact, are only few
of the titles acquired by attendance upon
these pampered brutes.
The royal white elephant has its corps
of attendants of royal blood, mandarins
of the highest class, its cabinet, its
special priest and medical attendant, or
generally those who divide their services
between the elephant and the human
king. In years gone by the white ele-
plant has been worshiped by all classes
and considered sacred as being the tenn
porary abode of a mighty Buddha. 1t is
now regarded as deity and worshiped
by the lower classes, the most intelligent
mobiles only considering it an omen of
good luck to possess them, and an honor
but this regard is carried to such an ex-
IRENE that it is akin to worship.
AS early as 1900 the white elephant
was the cause of numberess wars be-
tween Siam and other outlying Kingdoms,
and during one conflict over one of the ami
mails five kings and thousands of soldiers
were killed. The animals are found by
accident when hunting for others, and
the discovery is the making of the finder,
as he is Immediately, no matter how low
his condition, made a mandarin, eX-
empted from all taxation for life, and
rewarded with large sum of money.
The news of the capture is carried to the
capital by special messenger, and sea
son of rejoicing begins. A proper place
is at once prepared for its reception, and
its attendants appointed from the highest
mobiles in the land. These proceed tc
the place of capture, conveying choice
gifts. If the captive has been bound
with ropes, these emissaries change them
for others of scarlet or white silk, and
rich canopies of silver, white and gold.
cloth, fans of feathers, coverings and
rich robes are all used to protect the
newly discovered member of the royal
family from the heat, cold or from trou
blesome insects. If near navigable
stream, vessel is especially prepared fol
the purpose, decked with silk, gilt and
precious stones, and covered with can
Opy copied from that of the royal palace
itself. Thus in gorgeous trappings the
animal sails down the river, receiving the
reclamation of the villages on the way
and showers of gifts.
If taken overland, it is escorted by
mandarins and mobiles and other elephants
that conduct it through the farms, tn,
people offering up their possessions witt
a free hand. When once in the city the
entire population enters upon a three
days time of rejoicing. The mandarin
OF the nation now present their gifts
which are often of the most expensiv,
kind. One lately described was a vas,
of solid gold that weighed 4SO ounces
The animal is placed in the royal stall
prepared for it, its surroundings beinl
those of monarch. One noblemal
brushes insects from it; another feed
it with choice fruits. About its tusk
are bracelets or bands of solid gold
while the blankets that cover its ugl,
body are of the richest stuffs that cal
be obtained. If of vicious disposition
it is shackled to the ground by chair
that is gilded or plated, and made a
rich and expensive as possible.
If the white elephant dies it is con
sidercd national loss. The body lies il
state for some time, and then is PLACED