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1836.
Siamese History.
57

gave the name, "mighty, supreme king Ráma the Búdha, who governs the magnificent country Sia Yutiyá, which abounds in all the commodities of earth." At that time, the king sent his son Rámmesawan, to govern the province of Lopburi. And then, also, the governors of the following countries were considered as tributaries, viz., Malacca, Java, Tenasserim, Sidamarát,[1] Tavoy, Martaban, Maulmein, Songklá (Singora), Chantapurí, Pitsanulok, Sukkhoty, Sawannalók, Pichit, Kampéngpet, and Sawanpurí. This year, the king sent an army of 5,000 men to attack Kamboja. They were defeated; but being reinforced, were victorious and brought back to Siam a great many Kambojan prisoners.[2]

Year 715. On Thursday, the 1st of the waxing moon, 4th month, at two o'clock and forty minutes. the king laid the foundation of a temple or wat,[3] called the wat of the heavenly Budha of Siam. A mare had a colt with one head, two bodies, and eight legs. A hen hatched a chicken with one body and two heads!

Year 725. The king's two sons died of the small-pox; and he had a wat erected over their remains, called the "Crystal Forest."

Year 731. King Rámá died,[4] after a reign of twenty years, and his son Rámmesawan returned from his provincial government and succeeded his father.

Year 732. The prince Rájátirát came down from Supanpuri; Rámmesawan resigned the sovereignty to him, and returned to govern Loppuri.

Year 733. Rájátirát marched and subdued all the northern provinces.

Year 734. This year is signalized by the subjugation of Panklá and Séngsiau.

Year 735. The king made an attack upon Chakangrau.[5] The governors, Chaikiu and Komhéng⟨,⟩ came forth to the contest; the former was slain, and the latter with his forces returned home. The king's army also returned to Sia Yutiyá.

Year 736. The king, out of reverence to the duties of religion, founded the wat called Mahadhatu, nineteen fathoms,[6] with a spire three fathoms high.

  1. ↑ I am unable to tell what or where this country is. The situation of Malacca, Java, Tenasserim, Tavoy, Songklá, and Chantapurí, are well known; the others lie N. and N.W. of Bangkok. Most of the names have specific meanings, given originally, without doubt, from some production or quality in which each place abounds. Thus Chantapurí signifies "the country of nutmegs;" Sawannalók⟨,⟩ "the heavenly world;" Kampengpet, "the wall of precious stones," and Sawanpuri, "the heavenly country."
  2. ↑ These were mostly made slaves, of course.
  3. ↑ A wat signifies a temple, or rather collection of temples and priests' houses, bell-houses, tanks, gardens, &c., and rather resembles a monastery than a temple; I shall therefore retain it in these papers.
  4. ↑ The Siamese word here rendered, "died," means "turned aside to heaven." They consider it as a great way of loyalty to suppose, much more to say, that the king can die. Priests are said to "return;" common people "die".
  5. ↑ The situation of the three places, Pangklá, Séngsiau, anf Chákangrau is at present unknown.
  6. ↑ A Siamese fathom is 4 cubits of 194 English inches each.
Vol. V. No. II.
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