TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
533 
other chiefs, partook heartily of our fare. As a 
mark of attention, when we were done, the relics 
of the feast were ordered to be distributed to 
our Indian servants ; but the Burman chiefs 
were surprised when it was explained to them 
that these people would not eat what had been 
cooked or touched either by them or us, and, 
what was still worse, what had been supplied 
by order of “ the great and glorious ” King ! 
Having now seen so much of the royal ele¬ 
phants, I shall describe what has come to my 
knowledge respecting these animals. All the 
elephants of the kingdom, tame or wild, are 
considered royal property: they are a royal 
monopoly ; but the King, as a mark of special 
favour, gives the use of them to his wives, con¬ 
cubines, brothers, and sons, and occasionally, 
but rarely, to some of the highest dignitaries of 
his Government. Every one who takes an ele¬ 
phant must deliver it to the King; and the 
killing even of a wild elephant is deemed an 
offence punishable by a heavy fine: it is done 
notwithstanding, both on account of the ivory 
and flesh, which last is eaten by the Burmans, 
after being dried in the sun, when, to save the 
penalty, it passes under the name of buffalo 
beef. The King, I am told, is possessed, in all, 
of about one thousand elephants, divided into 
