and runneth against the walles, which be made of so strong
trees, that some of them doe breake their teeth with running against them.
Then they pricke him with sharpe canes, and cause him to go into a strait
house, and there they put a rope about his middle and about his feet, and
let him stand there three or foure dayes, without eating or drinking: and
then they bring a female to him, with meat and drinke, and within a few
dayes he becommeth tame. The chiefe force of the king is in these
elephants. And when they goe into the warres they set a frame of wood vpon
their backes, bound with great cordes, wherein sit foure or sixe men, which
fight with gunnes, bowes, and arrowes, darts and other weapons. And they
say that their skinnes are so thicke that a pellet of an harquebush will
scarse pearce them, except it be in some tender place. Their weapons be
very badde. They haue gunnes, but shoot very badly in them, darts and
swords short without points. The king keepeth a very great state: when he
sitteth abroad as he doth euery day twise, all his noblemen which they call
Shemines sit on ech side, a good distance off, and a great guard without
them. The Court yard is very great. If any man will speake with the king,
he is to kneele downe, to heaue vp his hands to his head, and to put his
head to the ground three times, when he entreth, in the middle way, and
when he commeth neere to the king: and then he sitteth downe and talketh
with the king: if the king like well of him, he sitteth neere him within
three or foure paces: if he thinke not well of him, he sitteth further off.
When he goeth to warre, he goeth very strong. [Sidenote: Odia a city in
Siam.] At my being there he went to Odia in the countrey of Siam with three
hundred thousand men, and fiue thousand elephants. Thirty thousand men were
his guard. These people do eate roots, herbs, leaues, dogs, cats, rats,
serpents, and snakes; they refuse almost nothing. When the king rideth
abroad, he rideth with a great guard, and many noblemen, oftentimes vpon an
elephant with a fine castle vpon him very fairely gilded with gold; and
sometimes vpon a great frame like an horsliter, which hath a little house
vpon it couered ouer head, but open on the sides, which is all gilded with
golde, and set with many rubies and saphires, whereof he hath infinite
store in his country, and is caried vpon sixteene or eighteene mens
shoulders. [Sidenote: This maner of cariage on mens shoulders is v