ON SIAMESE LITERATURE. 



339 



This latter circumstance naturally follows from the fact that most of 

 the stories alluded to are founded on events or legends derived from 

 Western India. 



The generality of these compositions are spun out to an intolerable 

 length to an European taste — and in those of a dramatic nature the cha- 

 racters introduced often make a whimsical display of their own feelings and 

 opinions, which bear no reference to the main action or its accessaries — 

 a fault from which our own drama has not long been free. 



1. The Rdma-lte-un is a poetical version of the fdimons Ramay ana 

 of the Hindoos — and relates of course the adventures of Ram or Phra Ram 

 and his brother 'Phra Lak [Laksamana of the Malays] or the General — and 

 their wars with Sotsakan or Dushakantha [one of the names of Rdvana] 

 Tyrant of Ceylon, who carried off Nang Seda [or Sita], wife of Rama. 



The version adheres pretty closely to the original text in so far as 

 incident is concerned. It is composed in the style termed Rang U Pli^k 

 — and when dramatised, takes up about ten days for the representation. 



2. Radin. — Ley den's remark is correct, that this book is a translation 

 from a Javanese story. 



It is the history of Raden Montri (Mantri) or Eenau, then son of 

 TnAUKHt? Repan, of KusEPAN, who having lost his wife in a whirlwind, 

 disguises himself and proceeds in quest of her. She however is also in 

 disguise; many adventures befal him in the country of Daha, the King of 

 which has a lovely daughter named B^jtsaba, and also in Gagalang^ and 

 Sinyasari. This work consists of seventy volumes, or rather chapters. 



3. Somanakhodom is a history of Buddha in mortal shape. It is 

 also termed Wetsandan — in Baili, Wesantara. It consists of thirteen 

 volumes, each of which relates events which have happened to that deified 

 personage during just so many separate states of existence, agreeably 

 to the metemsychosis — These are — 



1 Sholsaphan, . . , 



2 Heemmaphaan, 



« • t. • • 



134 stanzas. 



19 stanzas of 8 lines each. 



