ON SIAM. 283 



" the king's .gift do solicit that I may be permitted to take the binding oath. 

 " of allegiance to his sacred majesty in presence of this holy water, and of 

 " the panoply of war, and further being conscious that I am acting in pre- 

 " sence of PJira PJioottJiee Chau or JBooddJia, &c. &c. the words " prove 

 " faithful to his majesty" stand in lieu of " will speak the truth" as in the 

 " other oath. 



" If I betray Marommacliah* (^) may his majesty's weapons of war be 

 " directed against my bosom — and may the lash of the sky| cut me in two, 

 " &c. &c. 



" If I shall become a traitor to his majesty Chauhjiaudeng, Lord of the 

 " red rice, or if I shall addict myself to peculation — or if when sent to a 

 " distant province I shall be guilty of oppressing his majesty's subjects 

 " — or of levying unauthorized taxes for my own emolument — or if 

 " I shall accept of a bribe to deliver my opinion upon any matter at 

 " legal issue — or if I shall give a false report of the state of the depart- 

 " ment committed to my charge — whether civil or military as the case 

 " may be — then may the spirits and Devottas of the country, &c. &c. 

 *' and destroy me, &c. &c. 



" If his sacred majesty should take the field then if I shall prove 

 " a coward or a traitor to him, may the weapons of the enemy reach 

 " my heart, &c. 



" Should I act with pride and presumption — and ingratitude — and 

 " prove grinding towards the poor ; or if I should lend my ear to or sanction 

 " any cabals by which the safety of his majesty and his government can be 

 " in the least degree affected and injured — or if I should treacherously coun- 

 " tenance the king's enemies, then let me suffer death accompanied by the 

 " severest tortures, &c. &c." 



* The Possessor of the Chakra, 



(') P. Paramachakka, 



t Liglitening. 



