New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-28
SLAMS PECULIAR FLAG.
THE REVERENCE PAID TO THE WHITE
ELEPHANT

Tho flag of Siam is a curious one-a white ele-
-. -, n rod held-and odd IL must look when II
:. racessarv TO hoist II upside down as a sIgnaI
NJ distress but most effective signal as ahythli'
more helpless or distressing than TINS clumsy q
ruped can hardly be imagined
Refore Xacca the founder of the natlon. was
horn. his mother dreamed that she brought lor'h
white elephant and the Brahmins affirm that
xacca after a metempsychosis or eighty thouSfild
changes concluded his varied experiences as TINS
white elephant, and thence was received INTO the
counarv of the Celestial Delties. Hence the ven
LILO, NJ tho Sia-nese for the Chang PhOonk' or
the sacred white elephant When such ugIlIlaFy
makes his appearance In the forest there Is great
rejoicing and no effort is spared 10 capture MN.
Tho king Is considered most fortunate who pos
cases one or more of these sacred animals. The
prosperous condition of the country ~, , 10
reaiI,. IA thbrick or Neapoitan yelow-is usu-
ally found in the northern province. ana the s4lST
escorted bv the cutting of wide path throush
tbe r,ngles to the river. There great floating
palace Of wood ornamented with gorgeous roof
and hung with crimson curtains awaits hi I'M 5onr
The king with his entire court IN }neiT and
RrabUin with banners flying and with music, go
up the river Ire 'M IN he City h. is welcomed with
Imposing ceremony by the members Oh 'ie '0S''
festival Of week is proclaimed and , thsRks
giving is offered up The 9rd d nfa Srom eonch
she'll and a title and namo are given MN, dItti
which he is conducted with great poHP aId CeL err,
Inonv, To hts SumptuOuS apartment "liIlIh W
precincts OF the kings palace Where ms oM.l -,
officers and slaves await 10 robe and decorate nm
FIRST he is placed a handsomely ouIt peleStdI
about a foot from the floor and Is fastener py one
hind and one fore foot to gilded posts Win ropes
o1-erad with crimson velvet. The court JeWeiieI
rings his tremendous tusk with MASSIVE go
crowns him with a diadem of beaten gold ana
places heavy gold chains around his neck ne Is
then rohed in A superb purple cloak OF NeiNet-
frineed with scarlet and gold. When ne oatheS,
an officer of high rank shelters his noble head with
a great umbrella of crimson and gold, while others
of the finest herbs. the tenderest grasses the
sweetest sugarCane and the melloweSt bananas
and other daintes which handed 10 MN on
gold and silver savers by his attendants on their
knees His drink Is perfumel with fragrant HoW II ;,
When ILL., he is attended by the most skilled or the
court physicians. and the chief priests pray dallE
for his recovery. If he dies there is universal
mourning he king trembleS his throne ana tIie
highest funeral honOrs paid to his corpse
One day n strange procession passed down the
six of them Curtained with crimson and goid cIptn
each manned by thirty boatmen dressed IN req
trousers Jackets and caps. They carried a BRASS
band which played mournful music. ana the nISl
ing borne rest. but it only the honors for
the body of light COlOred elephant
The third boat had gay curtains. hut had the
five story umbrellas. designating high rank BE
these two boats. bier. covered win Il
CANOPY of white. the corpse fastened and thus
hoated down the Gulf of Siam. only his brains
and heart atei. The hairs OF the tan are
preserved 5 sacred relics. Such hair Is looked
upon as the most precious present by which the
king show his esteem for any one They are
one sent by the late king to Queen Victoria
of England