ON SIAMESE LITERATURE. 341 



incidents relate to military strategy, and a trial of skill in sapping and 

 raining betwixt the parties. 



MoHosoT after a long series of mining and countermining operations 

 contrives to seize CHOULANf, and to carry off his daughter for his master 

 Thawithe. The latter however restores to the vanquished king the 

 government of his country. 



This Cheritra is strongly indicative of the peculiar mode of warfare 

 practised by the Indo-Chinese nations, where self-defence, and a studious 

 endeavour to shun all open danger, are primary circumstances. 



7. Vnnarut is a Dramatic Opera, or musical dramatic work, in ten 

 volumes. Oounarut, according to Leyden, was the Grandson of Crishna 

 or the Hindoo Anirudha. 



It has been composed from a history with a similar title, and it is 

 perhaps one of the most finished of Siamese compositions, whether consi- 

 dered with reference to the language or sentiment, both of which are as 

 refined as the present state of literature and of society in Siam can be sup- 

 posed to admit of. It is not exempt however from that blemish which unfor- 

 tunately pervades the Dramas of more civilized people, — indecent, and too 

 frequently gross, allusions. The summary of the story is as follows : 



PHRA-fN or Indra descending from the sky in form of a deer, allures 



the Raja Oounarijt from his palace, who pursues the supposed game to 



the precincts of the palace of Thau Krung Phaan, a Yak or Ratchsha : 



next follow the loves of the Raja and the adopted daughter of the Yak, 



and the recital of their cruel separation after a very short acquaintance. 



The lady is inconsolable, but as he is determined to find out who her 



lover is, a thing she had neglected to enquire of himself, she asks the 



advice of an attendant ; this female draws a likeness of him from memory, 



and gives it to her. A faithful attendant is then directed to search both 



earth and air for the Raja, and that the latter may credit what is to be 



communicated to him, she also carries a box of the perfume used by his 



mistress. The Raja is after some time found and eagerly follows the 



attendant back to the Yak's palace, where having gained access to the 



a2 



