322 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol XI. 



No. XIII.— THE ELEPHANT IN BURMA. 



Extract from 'a Report ly Vety.-Capt. G. M. Evans, A. V. D., Superintendent, 

 Civil Veterinary Department, Burma. 



The Elephant met with in Burma is the Asiatic species (Elephas indicus) — 

 Burmese Hsen, wild elephant, Tor-Hsen ; Shan, Sant-Ham, wild elephants, 

 Sant-H taint ; Karen, Ka-Sau. 



From time immemorial the Burmese and Siamesa have regarded the white 

 elephant as a sacred beast. Sir John Bowring states that the reason why 

 this animal is so specially reverenced is " because it is believed that 

 Buddha, the divine emanation from the Deity, must necessarily in his multi- 

 tudinous metamorphoses or transmissions through all existences, and through 

 millions of seons, delight to abide for some time in that grand incarnation of 

 purity, which is represented by the white elephant. "While the Phongyis 

 (priests) teach that there is no spot in the heavens above, or the earth below, 

 or the waters under the earth, which is not visited in the peregrinations 

 of the divinity,"- whose every stage or step is towards purification, they 

 hold that his tarrying may be longer in the white elephant than in any 

 other abode and that in the possession of the sacred creature they may 

 possess the presence of Buddha himself."' 1 " The same author states that 

 these animals have been the cause of many a war, and their possession more 

 an : object of envy than the conquest of territory. 



The kings of Burma were very proud of the titles of " Lord of the 

 Celestial Elephant" and "Lord of many White Elephants." The kings 

 of Siam also glory in these pompous tit'es ; in. that country everything 

 associated with majesty and rank bears the image of the white elephant. 

 These animals are surrounded with all the adjuncts of royalty, viz. — 

 gold umbrellas, etc.— and when they die are accorded a royal funera>l. 

 The Burmese being Buddhists, are natcrally kind to all dumb creatures, 

 s,o that the elephant, in common with other domestic animals, is well 



cared for. 



Wild Elephants.— These animals are very numerous and roam about in large 

 herds in the dense jungles at the foot of the hills ; very few are caught and 

 tamed by Government for the use of the State. The kings of Burma used 

 to carry on " kheddah " operations on a small scale in the Mandalay and 

 other districts, and were, I believe, fairly successful. I feel certain that if 

 operations were properly conducted, large captures could be made, as the 

 animals are plentiful enough. 



As a general rule, the herds vary in number from five to sixty animals, but 

 the latter figure may often be exceeded. The animals met with are compact, 

 massive, and of fair height; with regard to the latter point there may be slight 



* Sir Morrier Monier Williams, k.c.le., says the elephant is perhaps the most sacred of 

 all animals. — Buddhism, pp. 23, 24, 84, 525. 



