Chapter II: 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