32 On some Siamese Inscriptions. [No. 1, 



trade in horses or in cattle. If they should like to trade in silver, 

 trade in gold, trade in slaves, they are free to do so. Let them fearlessly 

 transact their business before the face of the lords, before the host of 

 princes and young nobles. If death occurs, tbe property of the father 

 goes to his sons, of whatever it may consist. His children, his wives, 

 his servants, his slaves, the fruit -gardens of betel and areca, all and 

 every thing, what the father possessed, is inherited by his son. When- 

 ever disputes arise between the common people and members of the 

 nobility, they will be examined into and decided with justice, both 

 parties being equally regarded as subjects. The judge must not side 

 with the person who clandestinely steals and defrauds. He must not 

 harm the property of the litigants and take from it by his greediness. 

 Whenever traders to buy or sell come in companies to visit the town, 

 let them come. Such as wait for me at the northern frontier, requir- 

 ing my assistance, shall have it. If they are in want of elephants, or 

 of horses, or of slaves, or of money, it will be given to them. After 

 the goods have been stapled* up in the town and stored, there will be 

 made an election of slaves and a rejection of slaves. Such as are 

 clever in spearing, clever in fighting, shall not be killed, neither shall 

 they be beaten. There is under the portico a bell hung up for the use 

 of the people, the royal subjects, in the centre of each village, in the 

 centre of each town. If in quarrels or injuries of any kind, they wish 

 to speak their mind before the lord or complain to the nobleman, it is 

 not difficult. They go and ring the bell, which has been hung up 

 there for them. The father-benefactor Ramkhamheng, the father 

 (sovereign) of the country, takes it up, he has the matter enquired 

 into and the names of the parties searched out. 



" Furthermore in this city of Sukhotay there are planted orchards 

 of areca-palms and betel-vines, all over the town. On every place 

 there are groves of cocoanut trees in great abundance. In this town 

 are parks of the resin tree and plenty of them. In this town are mangoes 

 and plenty of them. In this town are tamarinds and plenty of them. 

 In this town there is liberty to build and plant for whosoever wishes. 

 In the middle of this town of Sukhotay there is a stone basin with 

 a bubbling fountain, the water is clean and clear and good to drink 

 without being distilled, clear like the water of the Granges (khongka). 

 * Sic in MSS. Query [secured] ?— Eds. 



