Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-16
SLAMS PECULIAR FLAG
THE REVERENCE PAID TO THE
WHITE ELEPHANT.
Sacred Animal Represents the Me-
tempsychosis Of Xacca, the
Nations Founder.
From the New York Tribune.

From the New York Tribune.
The nag OF Siam Is a curious one-a white
elephant on red ffeld-and odd 1t must
look when tt Is necessary to hoist it upside
down as a signal of distress, but most
effective signal. as anything more helpless
or distressing than this clumsy quadruped
can hardly be imagined
Before Xacca. the founder OF the nation,
was born. his mother dreamed that she
Drought forth white elephant, and the
Brahmins affirm that xacca. after me-
tempsychosfs OF eighty thousand changes,
concluded his varied experiences as this
white elephant. and thence was received
into the company of the celestial deities
Hence the generation of the Siamese for
the Chang Phoonk'' or the sacred white
elephant. When such dignitary makes his
appearance in the forest there is great re-
joicing and no effort is spared to capture
him. The king Is considered most fortu-
nate VINO possesses one or more OF these
sacred animals. The present king possesses
seven hence the present prosperous condi-
ton of the country.
Yellow, Not White.
The so-caIled white eIephant-for the col
or Is really bathbrick or Neapolitan vel
lows usually found in the northern prov
ince. and the governor Of the province sees
that he Is comfortably escorted. by the cut
ting of wide path through the jungles to
the river. There a great floating palace OF
wood. ornamented with a gorgeous roof and
nung with crimson curtains, awaits him.
The roof Is literally matched with flowers
and the floor covered with gilt mating.
the King. with his entire court. IN their
elegant barges, multftudes Of priests, both
Buddhist and Brahmin, with banners fly
ing and with music, 90 up the river. two
days journey. to meet him. When he ar
rives In the city he il welcomed with i'm
posing ceremony by the members Of the
royal family.
A festival of week is proclaimed. and a
Thanksgiving Is offered up. The lordly
beast Is knighted by pouring water on his
forehead from a conch shell and title
and name are given him. after which he is
conducted with great pomp and ceremony
to his own sumptuous apartment, within
the precincts Of the kings palace, where
his own court officers and slaves await to
robe and decorate him. First. he is placed
on a handsomely built pedestal about a
foot from the floor and Is fastened by one
hind and one fore foot to gilded posts with
ropes covered with crimson velvet. The
court jeweler rings his tremendous tusk
with massive gold, crowns him with a dia-
dem Of beaten gold and places heavy gold
chains around his neck. He Is then robed
in superb purple cloak Of velvet, fringed
with scarlet and gold. When he battles
an officer Of high rank shelters his noble
head with a great umbrella Of crimson and
gold, while others wave golden fans before
him. His food consists of the finest herbs,
the tenderest grasses, the sweetest sugar
cane and the mcllowest bananas and other
datnties. which are handed to him on gold
and silver salvers by his attendants ON their
knees. His drink IS perfumed with fra
grant flowers. When Ill he Is attended by
the most skilled OF the court physicians
and the chief priests pray daily for his re-
covery. II he dies there is universal mourn
ing. the king tremhIes on his throne and
The highest funeral h0nnra ma ID RI hta
corpse. D
Honors to Elephant.
One day strange procession passed down
the river in Bangkok. There were eight
large barges. six or them curtained with
crimson and gold cloth. each manned by
thirty boatmens dressed In red trousers,
Jackets and caps. They carried brass
band. which played mournful music, and
tho first impl ession was that some eminent
person was being borne to rest but It was
only the honors for the body of light
colored elephant
The third boat lad no gay curtains but
had the fve-s.ory umbrellas. designating
bier covered with canopy of white, the
corpse was fastened. and thus foated down
to the Gulf Of Slam. Only his brains and
heart are cremated. The hairs of the tail
are preserved as sacred relics. Such hair
Is looked upon as the most precious present
by which the king can show his esteem for
any one. They are set in handles Of gold
and precious stones, and one was sent by
the late king to Queen Victoria Of England.