Talbot Mundy

“ The raja’s elephants—the four that had to be supported from the taxes—as distinguished from the priests’ elephants, which were supported by donations, which is different. The raja was not there, but nobody minded that; the priests had called him a low-caste degenerate, and they were no doubt right, being priests, who know everything. But on the elephants’ backs were the most wonderful people they had ever seen, and nobody knew who the people were, which made it thrilling. ”

“ And so evidently the musicians understood, for they redoubled their efforts; and the princess of the sparkling diamonds sitting beside the great prince laughed until they all laughed too, they couldn’t help it. Nobody in all Chota Pegu ever had half such a wonderful time. ”

“ And they all gave to the leper, although everybody knew that if he really, were one the Government would have taken him away long ago; they being charitable folk, more anxious to acquire merit than to impose it on others.
Then, about eight in the morning, every one said, “Ah-h-h!” because the elephants began to come from the direction of the temple. Lots of people got in the way and were all but trampled on, which was exciting; and they naturally laughed because they had escaped, and the rest laughed at them, so there was a great time. They had all seen elephants every day of their lives ”

“ Besides: the elephants had curtained howdahs, and everybody knows what thrilling secrets that suggests. As each enormous beast padded up, swaying and looking for mischief with his trunk, there was silence to see what happened when he maneuvered into position exactly in front of the main gate, and knelt there. ”

“ True, the priests had a hand in this, and the priests were always generous providers of pageantry; dangerous folk—mean, grasping, contemptible in many ways—but always willing to let the crowd in on eye-feasts. ”