Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-17

away. go into the bodies OF animals.
Moreover, they think that the spirits of
the good and noble go into the bodies Of
white animals, and as the elephant is one
of the largest OF beasts. every white ele-
plant contains the soul of a hero. King
Thibaw, the last native ruler Of Burma,
had palace for his white elephants, and
they were treated like kings. When they
went out umbrellas of white and gold
were held over them, and they had golden
tassels in their ears and golden plates on
their foreheads. They were bathed daily
in scented waters and they drank out Of
vessels decorated with gold. Each beast
had his own attendants, who did moth
ing but wait upon him. and the man
who found white elephant and brought
it to the palace was ennobled.. and
paid no taxes for the rest of his life
When the British took the country they
captured the white elephants. and today
If one were to be found he would be given
a job at the hauling of logs.
In fact, about the only place where the
white elephant has any e1nblance of roy
atty left Is Siam. The common people
there worship him, and the king now and
then rides out upon one in great state.
The national coat of arms is a picture Of
this royal beast. 1t has its place upon
the flag and also upon the principal coins.
With the awakening of the country and
the new movements. however, superSti-
tons are passing away The better classes
think much as we do, and his majesty
the king keeps his white elephants only
out of sentiment and respect for the be-
liefs of his people. He has elephant
stables connected with his palaces. and
there are several Of these so-called white
animals in the stalls. l visited them
during my last stay in Bangkok. They
were chained to stone posts and We're
betel and spat on the ground. as they
made the elephants perform for me-
These beasts were of an ashy gray color
and they looked dirty rather than white.
l am told that their color comes from
disease somewhat like leprosy. and that
this sometimes causes the animal affected
to go crazy. Indeed, a white elephant is
usually rogue elephant. or one which
should always be watched and never al
lowed to go loose.
The elephants now In the stables at
Bangkok are from the northern part of
Siam All those of the country belong to
the king, but the man who can send in
a white elephant is still rewarded. and
the advent Of a new one causes general
rejoicing. for it is looked upon as a sign
of good luck and prosperity
I write this letter in what is the most
up-to-date booming city of the far east.
Rangoon is the capital of Burma. 1t is
growing faster than Calcutta.
1t already stands third among the great
ports of the Indian empire, crowding the
heels OF Bombay. and there are many
who prophesy that 1t will eventually b,
the biggest city Of southern Asia Lying
here at the mouth of the 1rawadi, it
forms the only gate to one of the richest
valleys Of the world. and in time, by
railroads already projected. it will be the
gateway to western China as well. The
city has now population of 100000. 1t
runs for miles up and down the river
and extends back into the fiat aHuvial
Irawadi delta. 1t is backed by some
of the biggest rice lands of the world,
and ii exports more rice than any other
port on earth. The amount to be shipped
this year is valued at $65, 600. COO and the
river IL now filled with great steamers
loading for Japan, China, Australia, In
dia, Europe and North and South
America. Among them are river boats