Page:Events in Ayuddhya - Frankfurter - 1909.pdf/3

 a list of the Kings of Siam is given described as taken from an accredited copy of the history of the Kings as preserved in the Royal Archives. But already in the Bangkok Calendar of 1862 the following note is found:—

"Furnished by Phra Alak, the Chief of the King's Scribes, and doubtless with the approbation of His Majesty, designed by him we think, to correct the list of the Kings published in the Calendar for 1860."

These versions are based on tradition and on the very short and meagre records which were afterwards embodied in the yearly calendars (phum). In these phums were recorded what appeared to every person the most notable events; these phums, however, are only partly preserved, and as they were only to serve as a memorandum of events the persons noting them down deemed it in most cases sufficient to give the results.

The history of Siam is what its name implies, a record of the reigning families. Siam is feudal country. The nobility existing is not a hereditary one, but simply an official. The persons holding an office are designated by the office they hold, and they have consequently, so to say, no individuality, and we have consequently also no family records, which would usefully supplement those existing of the Royal Race.

Events are recorded without giving details, and in very many instances missing links have to be supplied by implication.

Besides these phums it is stated that Pāli versions of the history existed under the name of Culavyuha and Mahāvyuha, but up to now the manuscripts have not been traced.

Complete foreign versions of the history of Siam in early times do not exist. The foreigners who came to Siam, came for the purpose of trade and necessarily everything was viewed from this standpoint. They were in most cases unacquainted with the language and were not received in Court circles, and had to rely on