THE MEMOIRS
OF A
WHITE ELEPHANT
BY
JUDITH GAUTIER
Translated from the French by S. A. B. Harvey
Illustrated by L. H. Smith and S. B. Kite
NEW YORK
DUFFIELD & COMPANY
FOREWORD
(_Avant-propos_)
We are told by writers of antiquity that elephants have written
sentences in Greek, and that one of them was even known to speak.
There is, therefore, nothing unreasonable in the supposition that the
White Elephant of this history, the famous "_Iravata_" so celebrated
throughout Asia, should have written his own memoirs.
The story of his long existence--at times so glorious, and at other
times so full of misfortune--in the kingdom of Siam, and the India of
the Maharajahs and the English, is full of most curious and interesting
adventure.
After being almost worshipped as an idol, _Iravata_ becomes a warrior;
he is made prisoner with his master, whose life he saves, and whom he
assists to escape.
Later he is deemed worthy to be the guardian and companion of the
lovely little Princess Parvati, for whose amusement he invents
wonderful games, and to whom he renders a loving service.
We see how a wicked sentiment having crept into the heart of the
faithful Elephant, usually so wise and good, he is separated for a
long time from his beloved Princess, and meets with painful and trying
experiences.
But at last he once more finds his devoted friend the Princess, and her
forgiveness restores him to happiness.
J. G.
FOREWORD TO THE AMERICAN EDITION
My DEAR CHILDREN:--
This Story was written by Mademoiselle Gautier, a French lady who lives
in Paris. She is very handsome, and very learned, and is able to write
and speak Chinese, which is the most difficult language in the world.
She has also written beautiful tales of Persia, Japan, and other
far-away countries.
This Story was meant for French children, but I have made it into
English, so that my little American friends can have the pleasure of
hearing all about "_Iravata_" the good and wise Elephant, and his
friends, the _King_ and _Queen of Golconda_, and the charming little
_Princess Parvati_.
_Iravata_ meets with many surprising adventures. At one time he becomes
a "War-Elephant," and goes into battle in magnificent armour carrying
the King on his back. He fights tremendously, but nevertheless is taken
prisoner, and the King, his master, is condemned to death by his cruel
enemies. But the clever Elephant finds a way to liberate his Master,
and they escape together, and after many adventures reach home safely.
Later on _Iravata_ becomes restless and unhappy, and runs away, and
after many wanderings, he joins a Circus. Here he performs many amusing
feats. But, growing homesick, he is at last only too glad to return to
his home in the Palace of Golconda, where he lives happily ever after.
S. A. B. H.
Atlantic City, 1916.
CONTENTS
Foreword
I. THE STUDENT OF GOLCONDA
II. THE NATIVE FOREST
III. THE TRIUMPHAL PROCESSION
IV. ROYAL ELEPHANT OF SIAM
V. THE DOWRY OF THE PRINCESS
VI. THE DEPARTURE
VII. THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
VIII. BATTLE
IX. THE ESCAPE
X. GANESA
XI. WE ARE TAKEN FOR ROBBERS
XII. PARVATI
XIII. MY PRINCESS
XIV. ELEPHANT GAMES
XV. SCIENCE
XVI. FINE CLOTHES
XVII. THE ABDUCTION
XVIII. RETRIBUTION
XIX. THE HERMIT
XX. DESPAIR
XXI. JEALOUSY
XXII. FLIGHT
XXIII. THE HERD
XXIV. THE BRAHMAN
XXV. THE IRON RING
XXVI. "THE GRAND CIRCUS OF THE TWO WORLDS"
XXVII. MY DEBUT
XXVIII. COMEDIAN
XXIX. THE RETURN TO PARADISE
ILLUSTRATIONS
A SPLENDID PROCESSION WAS FORMED AND BEGAN ITS MARCH. I FOLLOWED NEXT
AFTER THE KING ... _Frontispiece_
TRANSPORTED WITH RAGE I RAN AT HIM, SEIZED HIM WITH MY TRUNK AND
DRAGGED HIM FROM THE SADDLE
PARVATI RAN TO HIM, LAUGHING AND QUITE RECOVERED
"WHICH OF YOU HAS BEEN GOOD?" SHE INQUIRED
I UTTERED A SUDDEN ROAR AND AT THE SAME TIME LEAPED TOWARD THE SERPENT
"HE IS WHITE, AND THAT IS ALL THE MORE REASON FOR SENDING HIM OFF"
"OH, IRAVATA! IRAVATA!" SHE SAID IN A LOW VOICE
THE MEMOIRS OF A WHITE ELEPHANT
[Illustration]
CHAPTER I
THE STUDENT OF GOLCONDA
First of all I must tell you how I learned to write. This knowledge
came to me somewhat late in my long life, but it has to be mentioned
at the outset, for although you men have taught my race to perform
many laborious tasks, you have not been in the habit of sending us to
school, and an elephant capable of reading and writing is a phenomenon
so rare as to seem almost incredible. I say _rare_, for I have heard it
stated that my case is not entirely unique. During my long association
with mankind I have come to understand much of their speech. I am even
acquainted with several languages; Siamese, Hindustani, and a little
English.
I might have been able to speak; I attempted to do so at times;
but I only succeeded in producing such extraordinary sounds as set
my teachers laughing, and terrified my companion elephants, if they
chanced to hear me; for my utterances resembled neither their own
language nor that of mankind!
I was about sixty years old (which is the prime of youth with us), when
chance enabled me to learn letters, and eventually to write the words
which I was never able to pronounce.
* * * * *
The enclosure reserved for me in the Palace of Golconda, where I was
permitted to roam entirely at liberty, was bordered on one side by a
wall of bricks enameled in blue and green. It was quite a high wall,
but it reached only to my shoulder, so that I could, if inclined, look
over the top very easily.
I spent much of my time at this place, owing to some tall tamarind
trees, which cast a fresh and delicious shade all around.
I had plenty of leisure, indeed, I was actually idle, for I was rarely
called upon except for processions. So, after my morning bath had been
taken, my toilet made, and my breakfast finished, my guardians, or
rather my servants, were at liberty to sleep, or to go about visiting
and amusing themselves--while I stood motionless under the trees, going
over in my mind the many experiences of my past life.
Every day there arose from an adjoining courtyard merry shouts
and laughter, which would be followed by a silence, and then by a
monotonous chanting. It was a class of little boys who were reciting
the Alphabet, for a school was being taught there.
Under shady trees, on turf covered here and there with small carpets,
a number of children with red caps romped and played, when the Master
was not there. As soon as he appeared all was silence, and he seated
himself upon a larger rug, under an old tree.
On the trunk of the tree was fastened a white Tablet, on which he wrote
with a red pencil.
I looked and listened, at first without much interest, noticing chiefly
the mischievous antics of the children, who made faces at me, and
glanced over with all sorts of grimaces--exploding suddenly with
laughter for which no cause was apparent.... Punishments rained! Tears
succeeded laughter! And I, who felt myself somewhat the cause of the
disturbance, no longer ventured to show myself. _But my curiosity was
awakened_. The idea of trying to learn what was being taught to the
small men became fixed in my mind.
I could not speak--but who knows?--I might learn to write!
Concealed in the foliage from the eyes of the frolicsome little
urchins, I gave an extreme attention to the lessons--sometimes making
such violent efforts to understand that I trembled from head to foot.
All that was required was simply to pronounce the letters of the
Alphabet, one after another, and trace them on the white Tablet.
At night now, instead of sleeping, I exercised my memory; and when in
spite of my endeavors I could not recall the form or the sound of a
letter, I uttered such cries of despair that my guardians were aroused.
One day there stood before the Tablet a boy who was quite large, but
extremely stupid. He had stood for some minutes with his head hanging
down, his finger in his mouth, shifting himself from one foot to the
other in a sulky manner--_He did not know_!
All at once an impulse seized me. I extended my trunk over the wall,
and taking the pencil gently, with the tip of my trunk, from the hand
of the little dunce (somewhat excited by my own audacity), I traced on
the white Tablet a gigantic "_E_"!!!!
The stupefaction was such that it could only be manifested by profound
silence, and gaping mouths.
Emboldened by success I seized the wet cloth with which the Tablet
was cleaned, and effaced the "E" which I had drawn. Then, in smaller
characters, and doing my very best, I wrote the entire Alphabet, from
end to end.
This time the Master fell on his face, crying out, _"A Miracle"_ and
the children ran away, terrified.
As for me, I expressed my satisfaction by moving backward and forward
my big ears.
The Teacher now rose trembling, detached the Tablet (being careful not
to obliterate any of the writing), and, after saluting me most humbly,
went away. A few moments later I saw my Mahout advancing towards me,
and, without mounting, he led me through the great avenues of the park
to the Entrance of the Palace.
Here ordinarily was seated my dear Mistress. But now she had left her
couch, and, kneeling on a cushion, was examining the Tablet covered
with letters which the Schoolmaster had brought her.
Standing around her were visitors, also looking on--several Hindus and
an Englishman.
As soon as she saw me she ran to me, clapping her hands.
"_Is it true? Is it true?_" cried she. "_Iravata, did you really do
it?_" I replied by winking my eyes and flapping my ears.
"_Yes!--He says yes!_" said my sweet Mistress, who always understood me.
But the Englishman shook his head, with an air of incredulity.
"In order to believe such a thing," said he, "I should have to see it
with my own eyes--hearsay is not enough."
I attempted to efface the writing.
"No, no," said the Schoolmaster, removing it out of my reach.
"I saw the Miracle, and I implore the Royal Soul which inhabits the
body of this Elephant to allow me to retain the proofs!"
Upon a sign from the Princess the Scribes were sent for. They came and
unrolled before me a long scroll of white satin, and gave me a pencil
dipped in gold ink.
The Englishman, with a singular grimace, put a morsel of glass in front
of one of his eyes, and became observant.
Secure now of myself, not permitting myself to be embarrassed by the
scrutiny of the company, I clasped the pencil firmly with the tip of
my trunk, and slowly, and with deliberation, I wrote very neatly the
Alphabet, from beginning to end.
"Iravata!--my faithful friend!" said the Princess, "_I knew that you
were more than our equal_!"...
Then, with her lovely white arms she clasped my ugly trunk, and leaned
her cheek against my rough skin. I felt her tears falling upon me, and
trembling myself with emotion, I knelt down and wept, too.
"Very curious!... Very curious!" murmured the Englishman, who seemed
much excited, and continually let fall and replaced the bit of glass in
the corner of his eye.
"What have you to say, Milord? You, who are one of the most learned men
in England?" inquired the Princess, drying my eyes with the corner of
her gauze scarf.
The philosopher recovered his composure.
"Quintus Mucius, who was three times Consul, relates that he saw an
elephant draw in Greek characters this sentence. "_It is I who have
written these words, and have dedicated the Celtic Spoils_" And _Elien_
mentions an elephant who was able to write entire phrases, and even
talk. I was formerly unable to credit these statements. But it is
evident that, such things being possible, we must bow to the authority
of the Ancients, our predecessors, and apologize for having doubted
their word."
My Princess decided that the Schoolmaster should now be attached to my
person, and entrusted with the responsibility of teaching me to write
syllables, and words (should that prove possible).
The good man performed his task with reverence, and with a patience
worthy of a saint.
For my part, I made such struggles to learn that I grew thin in a way
to cause anxiety to those who loved me, and my skin at last floated
about my bones, like a mantle that is too large. But when they spoke of
interrupting my lessons I uttered such shrieks of despair that it was
not to be thought of.
I was compelled, however, to regulate my hours of study, and above all
not to omit my meals, which had often happened in the fever of learning
which had taken hold of me.
At last I was rewarded for my diligence. I was able at length to write
the beloved name of my Princess! It is true it was instantly blotted
out by the tears with which I deluged the paper!
From this moment it seemed as if veils had been removed from my
understanding. I made rapid progress, and with the greatest ease.
So much so, that my Professor was not considered to be sufficiently
learned for his position, and a celebrated Brahman was called upon to
complete my education.
I learned that all Golconda thought of nothing but me. And it was
expected that, when I should become proficient in writing, wonderful
revelations would be made by me, concerning the successive migrations
of the Royal Soul which at present inhabited my person.
But what I have written has been simply the Story of my Life, portions
of which my dear Mistress was unacquainted with.
The work was at once translated from the Hindustani, in which I had
written it, into all the languages of Asia and Europe, and sold by
hundreds of thousands.
This honour (which has excited much envy in the minds of authors whose
works were not so successful), did not inspire me with vanity.
My reward--my recompense--was _Her_ joy, and _Her_ pride: the rest of
the world was of no account to me; for all that I had achieved was
solely and exclusively for _Her_.