TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
247 
tion of a female caught, two years before it, in 
the forests of Lain. Several of a light tint, but 
not deserving the name of white, have been 
taken within the last twenty years. 
I had here an opportunity, as well as in Siam, 
of ascertaining that the veneration paid to the 
white elephant has been, in some respects, great¬ 
ly exaggerated. The white elephant is not an 
object of worship, but it is considered an indis¬ 
pensable part of the regalia of sovereignty. 
Royalty is incomplete without it; and the more 
there are, the more perfect is" the state of the 
kingly office considered. Both the Court and 
people would consider it as peculiarly inauspi¬ 
cious to want a white elephant; and hence the 
repute in which they are held, and the anxiety 
to obtain them : the capture of a white elephant 
is consequently highly rewarded. The present 
one was first discovered by four common vil¬ 
lagers, each of whom received two thousand 
five hundred ticals in money, and offices, titles, 
and estates. 
While we were at Ava, a report was brought 
that a white elephant had been seen ; but it was 
stated, at the same time, that its capture and 
transport on a sledge over the cultivated coun¬ 
try would be accompanied by the destruction 
of ten thousand baskets of rice. His Majesty 
