WD540(84)

‘'The Lord White Elephant'.’

THIS noble looking animal has lately died, and there is none, it is believed, to fill his place. He had occupied his late royal position for upwards of fifty years, and was said at the time of the Mission (September-October 1855) to be about 60 years old. Viewed in certain positions, or when standing ‘loosely,’ like a jaded horse, the prominent ridges of the spine indicated age, and he was said, also, at the time, to be sickly, or out of condition. The eye, however, which was peculiar, was full of mischief: the king himself remarked that his temper had always been uncertain. He was ridden only by his mahout, who was invariably seated on his neck when visitors were expected.

The colour of the animal was a cream or very light dun; his height was about ten feet, and his magnificent tusks nearly touched the ground, upon which, however, by the slightest inclination of the head, they rested. He was ‘right royally caparisoned’ in bands of crimson cloth or velvet and gold, studded with large bosses of gold. Across the forehead he wore a plate of gold, margined with innumerable Rubies, and having his name or title in the centre; and across the upper part of his trunk a massive crescent of gold, blazing with jewels of every kind and size. His ears were decorated with large silver tassels, and over his head he wore an ordinary cloth of gold, his costlier gear being reserved either for state occasions or for exhibition to visitors at such times. These collectively are delineated in a separate plate.

His near feet were fastened by ropes, covered with cloth, to the several pillars of the apartment, the floor of which was boarded, and margined with carpets. Above his head was suspended a white canopy, the exclusive privilege and insignia of Royalty. Fastened to the pillars are seen his golden umbrellas, and near one of the windows, a white fringed umbrella, or canopy, and other ornamental items of furniture indicative of Royal rank and privilege.

In the foreground are a variety of conic shaped vessels, glittering in gold and silver and mosaic; and near to them a gigantic jar of silver, containing water, all used either for drinking or bathing purposes.