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, the 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 tg 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 Ganges (khongka). 
* Sic in MSS. Query [secured] P—Eps. 

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