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Journal of an Embassy From the Governor-General of India to the Courts of Siam and Cochin China
Journal of an Embassy From the GovernorGeneral of India to the Courts of Siam and Cochin China Author:John Crawfurd Subtitle: Exhibiting a View of the Actual State of Those Kingdoms General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1830 Original Publisher: H. Colburn and R. Bentley Subjects: Thailand Vietnam, Southern Malay Peninsula Cochin China History / Military / Vietnam War History / Asia / Southeast Asia Travel / Asia... more » / Southeast Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER III. Siamese History. -- Ancient Story. -- First intercourse of Europeans with Siaiii. -- Conquest by the Burmese. -- Story of the Greek adventurer Constantine Phaulcon, and connection with France -- Invasion and conquest of Siam by the Burmese. -- Burmese driven out of the country. -- Reign and death of the Usurper, commonly called Pia-Metak. -- Present Dynasty. -- Trade. -- Internal commerce. -- Trade with China. -- Trade with Kamboja, Cochin China, and the Malay countries. -- Natural History. -- Climate. -- Mineral products. -- Vegetable productions. -- Quadrupeds. -- Birds. -- Reptiles. The following is a brief sketch of Siamese history. The Siamese call themselves T'hai; by the Burmans they are called Shan, and by the Chinese, the Kambojans and Malays, Seam, which last is no doubt the origin of the name by which they are recognised amongst European nations. In addressing letters to foreign countries, the name of the capital, or, more literally, of the palace or residence of the King, is by a figure applied to the whole country. This term, Si- Ut'hiya, appears to be of mythological origin, and, I have little doubt, is a local corruption of the Sanscrit Sri Ayudhya, the name of the kingdom of the Hindoo god and hero Rama, -- a personage familiar to Siamese legend. From this come again the European corruptions of the na...« less