THE PROCESSION OF THE ELEPHANTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2083, 25 January 1894, Page 41

THE PROCESSION OF THE ELEPHANTS.

The following graphic account is from an article entitled •• January Days in Ceylon," in the Cornhill Magazine :—" The crowds assemble again to witness the Perahera, a solemn procession of the sacred elephants, which have been arriving all the afternoon from the Buddhist temples of the district, until the court containing the bell-shaped Daghobas which rise round the Temple* of the Tooth is full of the noble beasts ana their picturesque attendants, who move about bearing green burdens of bamboo and branoheß of trees for their charges to feed upon. At length, decorated with gorgeous masks and trappings of red, yellow, or white, glittering with gold embroidery representing Buddha in his manifold incarnations, with sacred inscriptions interwoven round every figure, the processional elephants are drawn up in line on either side of the temple gate. As the Austrian Archduke and his suite enter the balcony of the octagon, from whence the Kandyan kings were wont to show themselves to their subjects, the magnificent temple elephant descends the long flight of steps in gorgeous State caparisons of scarlet and gold presented by the King of Siam, and bearing the golden shrine of the Saored Tooth under a golden howdah. A score of attendants walk at the side, supporting a lofty cloth of gold canopy, outlined with clamps and flowers. Snowy plumes rise behind the flapping ears, and turbaned mahonts kneel on the richly - masked bead, and lean against the gilt columns of ,tbe howdab, holding peacock-feather fans and scarlet umbrellas edged with tinkling golden bells. The temple band leads the way, the barbaric strains, oft music being accompanied by the clashing cymbals and rattling castanets of 100 whirling dancers. Tbe dignified Kandyan chiefs walk in glitteriDg ranks before' the mighty elephant which occupies the post of honour, his small eyes twinkling through the red and gold mask of the huge head which towers above the multitude, and his enormous tußks guided carefully by the temple servants, to prevent accidental damage from their sweepiDg ivory curves. The 30 elephants of the procession walk three abreast, ridden by officials in muslin robes and embroidered scarves of sacred' red and yellow, and holding golden dishes heaped with rice, cocoanut, and flowers, the consecrated offerings of the Buddhist religion. Each trio of elephants is preceded by a band of music, a troupe of dancers, And a crowd of gaudily clad natives with blhzlbg torohes and scarlet banners. Sometimes a baby elephant trots along by his mother's side as a preliminary education in the, future duties of his sacred calling, and seemi terrified by the noise and glare, which in no way disconcert the imperturbable dignity of his elders. Bound and round the^wjde area of the temple precincts the gjg^ntie.animala move with the Blow and stately troad which allows ample time for the wild evolutions of the mazy dances performed before each advancing line. The splendour of the barbaric pageant harmonises with the vivid colouring of native life and landscape. Tbe red glare of a thousand flaming torches flashing back from the gorgeous trappings of the noble elephants, the dark faces of the bounding dancers, the waving fans and floating banners, the wild burst of savage mudc, and the Oriental brilliancy of the many-coloured crowd, contrasting with the jewelled coßtumes of Kandyan chiefs and the yellow robes of the Buddbist priesthood, render the imposing ceremonial a picture of unprecedented splendour. The tropical wealth of vegetation which frames the fantastic procession enhances the dazzling spectacle, before which every memory of European pageantry fades into a cold and colourless dream."