No. 54 —1903.] KING KIRTI SRI'S EMBASSY TO SIAM. 23 
accompanied us in forty-eight boats with their tents adorned in the 
manner described above, rowing on either side of us. Eight large 
boats with flags and umbrellas were attached to the one conveying the 
royal message by means of stout ropes, one to each, thus takmg the 
latter in tow. We proceeded in this manner up the river amidst 
great rejoicings on the part of the people, and the same afternoon we 
reached the district called Bangkok. The Siamese officer stationed 
here received us with great respect and provided us with all necessaries. 
The next morning, being Saturday, the chief priests from the 
neighbouring viharas were invited to the spot, and accepted alms 
at our hands with robes and the priestly necessaries, and the Pancha- 
sila was administered, after which we and our attendants were 
entertained at a feast. Leaving here the same morning we arrived in 
the evening at the district called Mung Nolak Van, where too the 
Siamese officer entertained us. The next morning, being Sunday, 
he arranged for the chief priests to come and accept offerings at our 
hands and to administer pansil^ after which we were entertained in 
turn. Immediately after this we started, and by rowing the whole 
night we reached the spot called Wat Pro Yath at dawn on Monday, 
and halted near the great vihare there. Here too we were received 
with the same ceremony, and similar religious exercises were arranged 
for us by the officer in command ; further, in obedience to the king's 
order he arranged an Upasampadd Chdritra Pinlmma at this temple, so 
that we might both derive pleasure and acquire merit by the sight. 
We remained seven days, and at dawn on the eighth day, being 
Monday, five great Officers of State came from the capital and took the 
royal message in a large canopied litter which was placed on board a 
gilt boat, while we proceeded in five others accompanied by the 
presents and attendants. When we reached the spot called Bai Pas 
Sath the two banks of the river were adorned with arches of gold and 
silver cloth, while a large concourse of people holding flags and 
umbrellas of various kinds were thronged together on gaily decked 
boats. We were filled with admiration at the sights on this river, 
crowded as it was with every kind of merchandise. 
About the eighth hour of the same morning we approached the 
capital of Ayodhya Pura and were presented to the sub-king. We 
showed him the royal message and presents, at which he expressed his 
great pleasure and spoke to us most kindly for a short time and 
inquired about our journey. He further informed us that a subsequent 
communication would be made to us regarding the presentation of 
the royal message and presents at the court. After this he desired us 
to return to our halting-place. We accordingly returned down the 
river to the Dutch settlement. 
When the Siamese officers had conveyed the news to the king, 
he sent orders that we and our attendants were to be fully supplied 
with all necessaries from the royal stores during our stay here. 
Later some officers came with a large supply of all kinds of eatables 
and sweets of sugar, with mandarin oranges, ripe plantains, betel, 
arecanuts, lime, tobacco, and various other articles. They came a 
second time and distributed silver coins called ticcal and masam-puwa 
from the royal treasury among us all. Moreover, the tradespeople 
were ordered to attend the people from La^k^, the chief priests of the 
viharas were requested to be so kind as to visit the men at all times 
and to preach bana, and to please them by allowing them to offer the 
usual offerings and thus acquire merit. 
