Show A royal white elephant doad alm of india the oldest of the white elephants which was born in 1770 died in its temple of bangkok in november last every one knows that this camons white elephant before which a whole people bow the knee is the emblem of the people of siam it is honored with the most beautiful presents for the indians full of the idea of metamorphosis still believe that so majestic an animal could be animated by only the spirit of a god or of an emperor each white elephant possesses its palace a vessel of gold and harness resplendent with jewels several mandarins arc attached to its service and feed it with cakes and sugar cane the king of siam is the only personage before whom it bows alie knee and a similar salutation is rendered it by the monarch the deceased idol was accorded a magnificent funeral A hundred priests official ed at the ceremony the enree surviving white ed trumpets and followed by an immense concourse of people accompanied compa nied the funeral cir to the bank of anc benam where the king and hi noble lords received ins which were transported to the opposite lunk A of thirty vessels figured in th it ceremony all the floating houses arranged in double hie on the benam to the number of were adorned with flags and symbolic il altri bujcs |