“In the beginning, you see, all elephants were white and flew through the air, keeping company with the clouds and rain. Millennia later a white elephant entered the side of Queen Sirimahamaya as she lay dreaming. Later she gave birth to Prince Siddhartha, the future Guatama Buddha. Among the predominantly Buddhist kingdoms of Southeast Asia, the finding of a white elephant during the reign of a monarch was the most auspicious event imaginable. Stories speak of such beasts lumbering across the palace grounds, shaded by attendants with silk umbrellas and offered platters of delicacies while musicians played soothing music. The youngest were said to be suckled by human wet nurses.”   p. 29-32, National Geographic, May 1991