Mr. Barnum's White Elephant.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 41, 15 March 1884, Page 4

Mr. Barnum's White Elephant.

The latest files of American papers give the story of the negotiations that preceded Mr Barnum's purchase of the white elephant, which is to reach this country, on its way to the United States, about the beginning of next season. According to the "New York Tribune," Mr Barnum's agent, MiGay lord, who m the first instance approached the King of Siam with an offer of £20,000, or more, for a white elephant, was compelled to withdraw from Bangkok with much expedition to avoid, the consequences of the indignation excited by his proposal to purchase so sacred an animal. Even when the ! purchase of a white elephant had been contracted for with the agents of an irreligious or avaricious Siamese nobleman, and the animal had been delivered at Moulmein and thence shipped to Singapore, and £5,000 had been paid as an instalment of its price, it was killed at the latter port by poison, administered, as was believed, by " Siamese emissaries," sent to rescue it from the dishonour of being exhibited to unbelievers. At Mandalay, however, courtiers were found willing to take large bribes to facilitate Mr Barnum's project; and after months of diplomacy, a sacred white elephant, the " genuineness " of which is guasanteed by documents under the seal of King Theebau, was handed over to the representatives of the great showman for £40,000.