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 Prajakich Korachakr (Jëm Bunnak). The author was at pains to collect and collate all the material available, and as he did so with perspicacity and a profound knowledge of antiquity, his book is a very good one. It is in fact one of the best works in the field of Siamese history, and it is much to be regretted that Phya Prajakich Korachakr died so young, as he gave promise of great things as a historian.

10.The Rajadhiraj. This is the history of Pegu, which His Majesty Phra Buddha Yotfa Chulalok ordered to be translated into Siamese in B.E. 2328. The first part has much to do with our history at the time when Sukhothai was the capital.

11.Chamadevivongs. This work was written in Pali by Phra Bodhirangsi, of Chieng Mai, and was translated as the History of Muang Haribhunjai. It also has to do with the Sukhothai period.

The history of the Ayuddhya period can be more easily examined than that of Sukhothai as we have documents to form a groundwork.

The most familiar version of this history is that printed by Dr. Bradley, in two volumes, in B.E. 2406, and by other printing offices on several occasions since. It is generally held that this History was the work of Krom Somdet Phra Paramanujit, and that in composing it he made use of the history of Somdet Phra Wanratna in Pali, one part of which was called Mahayuddhakar and the other Chulayuddhakar. The two volumes were thus ascribed to Krom Somdet Phra Paramannjit, and were generally considered the only books in existence relating to the history of the Ayuddhya period.

When, however, His Majesty King Chulalongkorn ordered the establishment of the National Library in B.E. 2448 and appointed His Majesty the present King President of the Council, and when afterwards the Royal Research Society was formed, of which His Majesty constituted himself President, in B.E. 2450, all the members endeavoured to collect historical documents. Many of them also helped in examining and comparing the many documents that were gradually placed in the Library. When any doubt arose the late King was approached, and His Majesty often gave his opinion on questions brought before him. Only two months before his lamented death the following letter was received from His Majesty:—