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IX.—d_ Dissertation on White Elephanis.—By Captain Jaues Low, 
Cor. Mem. R. A.S. 
Read February 19, 1831. 
Tue existence of perfectly white elephants has been called in question by 
many ; and it was long supposed that the kings of Siam imposed on the 
credulity of foreigners, and that the light colour of the elephant was arti- 
ficial. No doubt can now remain respecting the existence of this deviation 
from the common course of nature. In the stables of the king of Siam 
there are elephants, the colour of which, although not pure white, is yet 
sufficiently light-coloured to admit of the appellation they have received 
being with propriety bestowed upon them. Strangers at Siam are taken to 
see these elephants, and no mystery is made respecting them.* 
I am not aware that any elephants of a colour even approaching to white 
have been discovered in Hindustan. 
Although we have every reason for supposing that the white elephants are 
not of a distinct species, yet there is nothing which, physically considered, - 
ought to weigh against such a supposition, and there is much which analogy 
might bring to its support; particularly as we know that the variety in the 
colour of perhaps all domesticated animals has been owing to the care and 
art of man, and that he has the power thereafter of causing any one colour 
to be perpetuated in preference to another. 
In the Indian Archipelago there is the white buffalo, or Kurbai putih, 
which is a very powerful animal. Its colour is a dingy white, or white and 
* Mr. Crawfurd, in his Mission to Siam, describes having seen six of these in the king's 
stables, a larger number than were ever before collected there. ‘‘ They approached much 
nearer to a true white colour than I had expected; they had indeed all of them more or less of 
a flesh-coloured tinge, but this arose from the exposure of the skin, owing to the small quantity 
of hair with which the elephant is naturally covered. They showed no signs of disease, debility, 
or imperfection ; they were of the ordinary stature.” P. 96. ‘The rareness of the white ele- 
phant is no doubt the origin of the consideration in which it is held.” P.97, They have also a 
white monkey. 
Vo. III. 2B 
