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56
Siamese History.
June,

ese year commences the last of March, or in the month of April, instead of January. It is my purpose in a succession of papers to present you the substance of the history above mentioned, without at all restricting myself to a rigid translation.

When these historical facts are placed before you, I propose to add some such speculations as I may be able, regarding the literature and religion of the country. It will be necessary as I proceed to add occasional notes for the elucidation of some facts which will be stated. It will be perceived that the history gives no account of the origin of the Siamese; but commences in the year 712 of their era, a.d. 1351. Their pride forbids that they should dwell much on that subject. It may be necessary therefore to remark, what it quite evident from various authentic sources, that the Siamese did not exist as an independent people long before that period. Kamboja was a large and powerful kingdom, and included south Loas (now called Wiang Chan,) and Siam as tributaries. The total dissimilarity of the Siamese common language from that of Kamboja militates against the idea of the Siamese having sprung from a Kambojan source. On the other hand, the agreement of the Siamese and Laos, or Wiang Chan, languages, in all their most important terms, forms a strong presumptive evidence in favour of their having originated from the Laos. There is abundant evidence from the Siamese writings which would be a very natural appellation if they were their progenitors. This name has now gone into desuetude, since the Siamese have become so great as to be unwilling to speak of others as great compared with them. Perhaps this subject may be alluded to again hereafter.

As various names must necessarily occur in these papers, to which the public are not accustomed, it may be here remarked that I adopt the following system of sounds to express them. The consonants are generally as in English.

a as in America.
á as in father.
e as in they.
é as ay in mayor.
i as in pin.
í as in marine.
o as in note.
ó as in long.
u as in ruminate.
ú same lengthened.
au like the English ow in how.

The first century, from 712 to 812 of the Siamese era, in more barren of interesting incidents than those which succeed it.

Siamese era, 712. On Friday, the 6th day of the waxing moon, 5th month, at 3 o'clock and 50 minutes, the magnificent and sacred city Sia Yutiyá[1] was founded. This had previously been declared propitious by Brahmans. There palaces were erected on the occasion, and his lorship Utáng was crowned as king, to whom the Burmans

  1. ↑ This is the city commonly called Yuthia, Yoodia, and by the Burmans, Yudara or Yudaya. It was the capital of the country till destroyed by the Burmans about half a century since.
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