im for it. When any of
these white elephants is brought vnto the king, all the merchants in the
city are commanded to see them, and to giue him a present of halfe a ducat,
which doth come to a great summe: for that there are many merchants in the
city. After that you haue giuen your present you may come and see them at
your pleasure, although they stand in the kings house. [Sidenote: The king
of the white elephants.] This king in his title is called the king of the
white elephants. If any other king haue one, and will not send it him, he
will make warre with him for it: for he had rather lose a great part of his
kingdome, then not to conquere him. They do very great seruice vnto these
white elephants: euery one of them standeth in an house gilded with golde,
and they doe feede in vessels of siluer and gilt. One of them when he doth
go to the riuer to be washed, as euery day they do, goeth vnder a canopy of
cloth of golde, or of silke carried ouer him by sixe or eight men, and
eight or ten men goe before him playing on drummes, shawmes, or other
instruments: and when he is washed and commeth out of the riuer, there is a
gentleman which doth wash his feet in a siluer basin: which is his office
giuen him by the king. There is no such account made of any blacke
elephant, be he neuer so great. And surely there be woonderfull faire and
great, and some be nine cubites in height. And they do report that the king
hath aboue fiue thousand elephants of warre, besides many other which be
not taught to fight. This king hath a very large place wherein he taketh
the wilde elephants. It standeth about a mile from Pegu, builded with a
faire court within, and is in a great groue or wood: and there be many
huntsmen, which go into the wildernesse with she elephants: for without the
she they are not to be taken. And they be taught for that purpose: and
euery hunter hath fiue or sixe of them: and they say that they annoint the
she elephants with a certaine ointment, which when the wild elephant doth
smell, he will not leaue her. When they haue brought the wilde elephant
neere vnto the place, they send word vnto the towne, and many horse men and
footmen come out and cause the she elephant to enter into a strait way
which doeth go to the palace, and the she and the he do runne in: for it is
like a wood: and when they be in, the gate doth shut. Afterward they get
out the female: and when the male seeth that he is left alone, he weepeth
and crieth,