Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-23
SLAMS WHITE ELEPHANTS.
Mistaken Notions as to How They Are
Regarded by the People.

| There is a mistaken impression that
the white elephant, the shang phoouk,
Is worshipped by the Buddhist of Siam
as deity" said a missionary who re.
icently returned from the Orient. 1.-THE
1 Buddhists do not recognize a materiaT
God in any form and are shocked at
the American idea that they worship.
an elephant. There is, however, some
approach 20 worship in their reverence
for white animals, particularly the ele-'
plant, monkey. dove, sparrow, stork
and swan. The reason of this reyera'
ance is that under the Buddhist reli-
gion each successive Buddha is sup
posed to have passed through series
of transmigrations and in turn occu-.
pied the. forms of white animals of "a
certain class. The white elephant ranks
first because it is believed to@be the
temporary dwelling place of the soul or
some great parsonage, a king or great
general. ''i
THE wisdom and knowledge of this
great parsonage are supposed to be rec
tanned while in this state and the ele-
plant therefore knows what is best
for those around it. Its presence thug
prevents national calamity and pro-
notes peace and prosperity. So it Isl
customary when white elephant is
found to decorate it, bestow presents
on it and make it in every way favor
lite of the throne.
when an elephant of this sort is disA
covered prayers are ordered in all the
temples, 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 1t is lib
orally rewarded. The elephant is re.'
ceived with great ceremony on the way
to the capital, and path is cut through
the forest for it's convenient passage.
At every stopping place attendants sing
and dance, play musical instruments
and give exhibitions of skill for the en-
tertainment of the elephant. ~
Seventy miles from the capital the
King, his court, priests and great per-
sonages. with musicians and cannon,
meet the elephant and conduct him to
his stable. which is a palace. The GER
emonies continue for a week or 10 days,
and consist of Interesting details He
is knighted, annointed, his tusks are
capped with gold and he is given IL
tie. Festivities and entertainments
continue all this time in his homer and
at the expiration of the allotted time he
is conducted to his magnificent apart
ments within the Kings palace. At
tendants 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 surroundings
that is omitted. ...
These ceremonies no doubt have
caused the impression to exist in Chris
tian countries that the elephant is wor-
shipped as a god. Should an elephant
die of indigestion and establishment
during the period of carnival, as once
happened, there is deep mourning and
the tusks and skin are preserved as rel-
les. During life the white elephant is
the leading figure in all state occasions
and is stationed at the liner gate of the
palace. At all times his food is select
ed with the greatest care and he is giv1
en- the most tender sprouts the country
affords, grass, sugar cane, plantains
and wheat made into cakes, and his
drink is highly perfumed." ~