Page:Siamese missions to Ceylon - Frankfurter - 1907.pdf/2

 The Vajirañāna National Library has lately acquired a MS of the history of Siam, which to a certain extent presents a versio amplior of the History, and from it the following extracts with reference to the Missions may prove of interest:—

"In the Chulasakaraj 1115, in the year of the cock, the Kittisrirajasīh was reigning in Sinkhandhnagara, holding sway over Ceylon. At that time there were no priests in Ceylon. The King therefore deputed the Councillor Sri Vaddhana as an Ambassador with a second and third ambassador as bearers of a Royal autograph, and presents of which the principal ones were relics of the Buddha. They came in a Dutch merchant ship to establish relations of friendship with Siam, and requested that priests should be sent to initiate persons into the priesthood so that the Buddhist Doctrine might continue in Ceylon. His Majesty was pleased to give orders that the Ambassadors should be received in the usual way, and he granted to them an audience to pay their respects at the time he received foreign guests at the Sanphet Palace. He addressed them three times in accordance with Royal usage and bestowed on them presents becoming to their dignity. He was then pleased to give orders to depute officials as ambassadors with a Royal autograph letter and presents to the King of Ceylon.

"He also invited Phra Ubāli and Phra Ariyamuni, two high priests, with twelve priests to proceed to Ceylon with a view to initiate youths into the priesthood. He also asked that the Phra Sangharāj (the chief priest) should send a letter, and he had a vessel prepared for the Siamese Ambassadors together with the fourteen priests carrying the Royal Autograph and the Royal presents, and they proceeded together with the Sinhalese Ambassadors to Ceylon." (2.)

It may in this respect be mentioned that in the Pūm (the yearly calendar) for the year 1113 (the year of the goat) the arrival of the Ceylon Ambassadors is mentioned in these words:—

"Ceylon asks for priests to teach the Religion." This date may be considered correct taking into consideration the Monsoon. (3.)