THE STORY OF THE ELEPHANT. 



161 



soul of his father, or some other ancestor, may inhabit the body of one of 

 the white elephants; and, in consequence of this theory, every white elephant, 

 in Siam, has the title of king-, is lodged and fed m a very sumptuous manner, 

 and is never ridden, even by the king himself, as the elephant is as great a 

 king as he is. 



A curious instance is recorded of the elephant's liking for sweetmeats, and 



^^' 



BABY ELEPHANT OF THE SOUDAN. 



of a method adopted in his savage state to gratify this propensity. It chanced 

 that a Coolie, laden with jaggery, which is a coarse preparation of sugar, was 

 surprised in a narrow pass in India by a wild elephant. The poor fellow, in- 

 tent upon saving his life, threw down the burden, which the elephant de- 

 voured, and, being well pleased with the repast, determined not to allow uny 



