Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-10
THE WHITE ELEPHANT.
Mistaken Impression Regarding It's
Place In Siamese Religion.

s"rhere is a mistaken impression that the
white elephant, the shang phoouk, is wor-
SHIPPED by the Buddhists of Siam as a
deity" said missionary who has recently
returned from the orient. THE Buddhists
do not recognize a material God In any
form and are shocked at the American idea
that they worship an elephant. There is,
however, some approach to worship in their
reverence for white animals, particularly
the elephant, monkey, dove sparrow, stork
and swan. The reason of this reverence Is
that under the Buddhist religion each sue
cessive Buddha Is supposed to have passed
through a series of transmigra tions and In
turn occupied the forms of white animals of
a certain class. The white elephant ranks
first because IT is believed to be the tenn
porary dwelling place of the soul Of some
great personage, a king or great general
The wisdom and knowledge of this great
parsonage is supposed TO be retained while
in this state, and the elephant therefore
knows what is best for those around it.
It's presence thus prevents national calam-
ity and promotes peace and prosperity. So
1t is customary when a white elephant is
found to decorate it, bestow presents on
it and make it in every way a favorite Of
the throne.
when an elephant of this sort Is dis
covered prayers are ordered in all the tenn
pies while the hunters go out to capture it.
The bearer of the message announcing its
capture has his mouth ears and noStrils
stuffed with gold. and the one who first
discovered it is literally rewarded. The
elephant is received with great ceremony
on the way to the capital and a path is cut
through the forests for Its convenient pas
sage At every stopping place attendants
sing and dance, play musical instruments
and give exhibitions of skill for the enter
tainment of the elephant
Seventy miles from the capital the king,
his court priests and great personages,
with musicians and cannon, meet the ee-
plant and conduct him to his stable, which
is a palace. The ceremonies continue for a
week or ten days, and consist of interest
ing details. He Is knighted, anointed, his
tusks are capped with gold and he is given
a title Festivities and entertainments con-
tinue all this time in his honor, and at the
Quoted to magnificent apartments within
the kings palace. Attendants are given
him and when he is given bath he Is
famed with fans of gold. Purple robes
are made for him and there Is nothing that
the ingenuity of the magnificent orient
can suggest to add to the glory of his sur
roundings that Is omitted. These ceremo-
MES no doubt have caused the impression
to exist in Christian countries that the ele-
plant is worshiped az anGod. Should an
elephant die ofi1fndigest ton and astonish-
ment during this period OF carnival, as once
happened, there as deepn mourning and the
tusks and skinilare preserved as relics
During life the fHfhites elephant Is the lead
ing figure in all statel occasions and Is sta
toned at the inner gate of the palace At
all times his foDd ip selected with the
greatest care anaohs IL given the most ten
der sprouts the Country affords. grass, su-
gar cane, plantahs sahd wheat made into
cakes and his drink 10 highly perfumed."