OF SIAM. 273 



P,hm or officers of 3000 Nad. 



The word PJira is capable of very extensive application. In the first 

 instance it was probably exclusively used when alluding to Booddha — as 

 it seems to be now in Burma : priests next assumed the title, and kings 

 soon claimed equal right to it. Standing alone it means divine, or great, 

 or dignified. A few examples will best shew its meaning when conjoined 

 to other words. 



PJira Chaau is BoodJia — and PJira Prnbaat, his foot — PJira djiamma, 

 the sacred text of the Bali — PJira Sangha, priests — PJira Ayahan anydkdra, 

 a code of laws — PJirasat, the royal quarter, including palace and houses 

 attached — PJira Q) Racharot, his carriage. The name of every member of 

 the king's person must have PJira prefixed, as Shooee, golden, is applied in 

 Ava on like occasions. 



PJira Chauthan, (") the king's elephants. They are magnificently housed 

 and ceremoniously attended by officers appointed for the purpose ; being fas- 

 tened with gold or silver chains, and eating out of receptacles composed of pre- 

 cious metals. PJira tjieenang, chair of state, splendidly gilded and painted. 



The PJira khroo plieeraam {^j is an officer who occasionally presides over 

 a tribunal of justice — but when the PJiraya malia Racliakjiroo (*) presides, 

 he takes a station below him. 



PJira see Mohosot Q) is a title appertaining either to the president or a 

 member of a tribunal, according to its importance and dignity. In one 

 assembled in 1788 he is ranked as fourth member. 



PJira krom pjiako is a sort of secretary of state, 



PJira Satsadee (^) is the title given to two law advisers — and to the 

 keeper of the census of population. 



PJira Yok,kabat is a kind of attorney general and acts as a spy on a 

 governor or other dignitary . 



(') P. Rdjarafha. (^) P. Para chhaddanta. 



(*) P. Mahdi dja guru, Q P. Para siri mahosadha. 



H 



C) P. Para guru wirdma. 

 Q P. Para sdsatl. 



