Page:Pearl of Asia (Child JT, 1892).pdf/346

316 predominated in the breast of the king; he, therefore, gave both his daughter and her child to Nai Saan Pom, and had her put on a raft to be floated out of the city. When they arrived at the garden of Nai Saan Pom, he led them up into his hut. In consequence of the great merit of these three persons, P'ra-In assumed the form of a monkey, and presented to Nai Saan Pom a celestial drum. At the same time he told him that he had only to strike that drum and whatever he desired should be immediately granted. The monkey then vanished from his sight. Knowing that it was the gift of a celestial being, he was greatly delighted, and instantly struck it with the desire that he might become beautiful in form and handsome in appearance. His tumors all immediately vanished and he became distinguished for his extraordinary beauty. He brought the drum to his house, and told his wife all that had happened. She was much rejoiced and struck it again, desiring that they might receive gold of the first quality sufficient to make a cradle for their boy No sooner done, than the gold was theirs and from that circumstance the boy received the name of P'ra-Chow-oo-t'awng

In the year 681 Siamese era, or about A.D. 1320, the father of Chow-oo-t'awng again struck the drum and a large splendid capital sprung in to existence with walls forts, towers, gates and trenches all complete, together with a royal palace. He called the city T'ep-na-k'awn because it was accomplished by the power of the t'ewa-da. The people then encouraged each other to take up their abode there, so that it was soon filled with a large population and the father of Chow-oo-t'awng, whose fame reached to Siam, reigned there under the title of Somdet P'ra-Chow-see-ch'ei Ch'ieng Saan. He was