OF SIAM. 277 



Lo-ung Ramdecha (^) was one of three commissioners deputed by the 

 PJiraya of Ligor to confer with the envoy from Penang, when he was sent 

 into that country.* 



Lo-ung me chaau, is the chief housekeeper in the Palace. She is 

 aided by Lg. Aya, Lg. Plat, and Lg. Rong. She likewise controls the 

 P,hra PJiee Lee-tmg or female attendants, and the 3Ie nom or nurses. 



Siamese ladies of rank are very scrupulous in doing aught which may 

 tend to diminish their charms, and to attain this end sacrifice the earliest 

 maternal affections and cares, children are often suckled for two and three 

 years by nurses, and amongst the lower classes by mothers — and this last 

 fact may account perhaps in some degree for the stationary nature of the 

 population. 



The following Lo-ungs may be put down although their duties are not 

 clearly defined. P ,hetchaloosen, Lg. Sak, (^) Lg. Seet, (*) Lg. SeetJiee 

 P,hrom, (^) Lg. Praseet, i^) Lg. Eent,hamat, (J) Lg. PJion, Lg. KJtrang, 

 Lg. Det, Lg. Reettjian, Lg. Chai seena. (^) 



AivJcJeya or dkt/a is an honorary title which may be given to gover- 

 nors of provinces and some courtiers. It seems to have fallen much into 

 disuse. It is prefixed occasionally to the titles PJira Palat, P,hra Yokkabat 

 or great law officer, PJira Satsadee or the keeper of the rolls, PJira Maha 

 T,hai Loang Rahang. 



KHOON. 



Respectively of 14:00 — or 1200 fields. 



The word Khoon means beneficent, humane, charitable, and is used in 

 common speech by those who wish to be particularly respectful to a supe- 

 rior, or to endear themselves to an individual. Thus Chaukjioon, " your 

 excellency," Phdkjioon " my worthy father," &c. 



(') P. Ramateja. * (In 1824.) 



P. Wejjalusena. {') P. Sakka. {*) P. Settha. {') P. Sidd/ii Brahma. 

 f) P, Pasettha. Q P. Indha madda. i^) P. Jayasena. 



I 



