The Memoirs of a White Elephant. Gautier Judith
the mop, and commenced to sprinkle me in a way that displeased me exceedingly. He squirted the water in my eyes and ears, and as it lasted longer than I thought needful, I seized the mop out of his hand, and sousing it well in the water I shook it over all three of them – giving as good as I had received!
They escaped, laughing and wiping their faces with their-long sleeves, and I gave a loud scream of triumph, to proclaim my victory, and my satisfaction!.. But Prince-Formidable did not approve my conduct – he thought it lacked dignity.
Soon after this they came to take us to the bath. A slave marched in front, striking cymbals in order to make way for us, and others held over our heads magnificent umbrellas. It was in our own park that the beautiful pond was situated, and I was allowed this time to plunge and swim, and roll over as long as I wanted.
A repast as plentiful as it was delicious ended the day, which had certainly been to me in every way most satisfactory.
It continued in this manner, from day to day, with the exception of the Talapoins, who never returned.
Only one hour in the day was somewhat distressing to me. It was my daily lesson, which I had to take each evening, before going to bed.
The man who had first sat upon my head remained my principal guardian – my "Mahout," and he had to teach me, and make me understand the indispensible words of command, such as "Forward," "Backward," "Kneel," "Rise," "Right," "Left," "Halt," "Faster," "Slower," "That's Right," "That's Wrong," "Do It Again," "That's Enough," "Salute the King."
Prince-Formidable assisted me by translating these orders to me in elephant-speech, so that I soon knew all that was needful.
Several years passed in this way very pleasantly, but rather monotonously. Prince-Formidable died the second year after my arrival. They gave him a Royal Funeral and all the Court went into mourning.
For a while I was alone. Then other White Elephants came in; but the new ones were very ignorant, and seemed sulky and rebellious in their dispositions – so that I took but little notice of them.
CHAPTER V
THE DOWRY OF THE PRINCESS
One day my Mahout, who like all others of his class, had the habit of making long discourses (which I finally grew to understand), came and stood before me, as he always did when he wished me to listen.
I at once became attentive, for I saw from his agitated air that something of importance was concerned.
"King-Magnanimous," said he, "ought we to rejoice – or ought we to weep? Is a new life for us a good, or an evil thing? Should one dread change, or should one welcome it? These are questions which are being balanced in my mind, like the weights in a pair of scales! You, who are now an elephant, but were once a King could tell me, if only you could speak. You could tell me if the numerous transformations, the changes, have brought you most joy or sorrow. Your wisdom could put an end to my anxiety, perhaps; But perhaps, on the other hand, you can look no further into the future than I; and you would say to me, "Let us resign ourselves to what we cannot help, and wait to either weep or rejoice, till events prove good or ill."… Well! so will we do. We will resign ourselves, and wait.
"That which is about to happen you know not – and that is what I am going to tell you.
"Our great King, Phra, Puttie, Chucka, Ka, Rap, Si, Klan, Si, Kla, Mom, Ka, Phra, Puttie, Chow (for I cannot mention the King's name without giving him all his titles – I who am only a simple Mahout – when the Prime Minister, himself durst not do so!) – our great King is the father of several Princes, and also of a Princess – a beautiful Princess – who is of a marriageable age… Well! that is it! She is about to be married. The King Phra, Puttie, Chucka has bestowed the hand of the Princess Saphire-of-Heaven upon a Hindu, the Prince of Golconda: and this marriage, which at first would seem of little interest to us, is going to overturn our whole existence.
"Know, King-Magnanimous, that your glorious person is to form part of the Dowry of the Princess. Yes! even so. Without asking your pleasure in this affair, they have made a gift of you to a stranger Prince, who may not have for your Majesty the respect due you.
"And I – poor Mahout – what am I without the noble elephant whom I attend? And what is your Majesty without me?
"Therefore they have also made a gift of me, and I am now a fragment of the royal dowry. We are bound to each other till death – we are but one! You go where I conduct you, and I must go where you go. Oh! King-Magnanimous, ought we to weep or rejoice?"
Really, I could not say. And I was greatly disturbed at what had been told me.
To leave this life, so sweet and tranquil, but which sometimes wearied me by its monotony and inaction… Abandon this beautiful home so abundantly provided with good things!.. Surely this was cause for weeping! But then, to see new countries, new cities, meet with new adventures – that was perhaps something to rejoice at! …
Like my Mahout, I concluded the best way was to wait – and for the present to be resigned.
CHAPTER VI
THE DEPARTURE
The day of our departure arrived, and very early in the morning the Slaves came to make my toilet. They rubbed me all over several times with a pomade perfumed with magnolia and santal; they placed on my back a mantle of purple and gold, and upon my head a chaplet of pearls and the royal diadem. They fastened heavy gold bracelets on my legs, and on my tusks gold rings set with jewels; from each of my ears there hung down a great tail of horse-hair, white and silky. Arrayed thus, I was conscious of my magnificence, and longed to show myself to the People.
Still, I gave a backward glance at the Palace I was leaving, and sounded a few notes of farewell to the elephants who were remaining, with whom I had begun to be quite friendly. They replied by thundering outbursts of trumpeting, the noise of which followed me for a long way. All the inhabitants of Bangok were out, as on the day of my triumphal entry. They were in holiday costume, and were moving towards the palace of the King. There a splendid procession was formed and began its march, preceded by one hundred musicians dressed in green and crimson.
The King was seated in a howdah of gold fillagree, on a colossal black elephant – a giant among elephants. On his right and on his left were the Prince and Princess, on mounts of more than ordinary size.
The howdah of the Bride was enclosed by a fringe of jewels which rendered her invisible. The Prince was young and handsome; he had a charming expression, which at once inspired me with confidence.
I followed next after the King, conducted by my Mahout, who walked on foot beside me. And after me came the Mandarins, Ministers, and other high functionaries, according to rank, and mounted on elephants or horses, followed by their servants, who carried behind each noble lord the Tea-pot of Honour, which in Siam is an insignia of nobility, the greater or less richness of which indicates the importance of the owner.
Then came the baggage of the Princess, consisting of numberless boxes of teak wood, marvelously carved.
The ceremony of the marriage had already taken place, and had occupied eight days. This was the "farewell" of the King, the Princes and the people to their Princess, whom they were escorting to the shore, whence she was to depart.
We stopped on the way at the richest Pagoda in the city, where they worship a Buddha carved out of a single emerald, which has not its equal in the world, for it is three feet tall, and as thick as the body of a man.
After this we descended by narrow streets, traversed by bridges and canals to the shores of the river – the broad and beautiful Mei-nam.
In the distance were seen the deep blue mountains against the brilliant sky – the chain of "The-Hundred-Peaks" – the "Rameau-Sabad" – the "Hill-of-Precious-Stones" and others. But the spectacle of the river, all covered with shipping bearing flags, and decorated with flowers, was incomparable!
There were great Junks of red and gold, with their sails of matting spread out like fans, their masts carrying pennants, and their prows rounded and made to imitate the head of a gigantic fish with goggle eyes; all sorts of boats,