576 
ANALYSIS OF THE ANCIENT ANNALS OF SIAM. 
The king Si thamma trai pidok, remembering that formerly the 
Buddha Somanak hodom going about to collect alms, had sat 
down to eat his rice at a certain place under a tree called ton sarno, 
resolved to build a city at this spot. He consequently gave orders 
to two of his officers the one named Clia nok rong, and the other 
Cha kan bun, to life out live hundred carts to carry the articles 
necessary for the building of the city. The two officers having 
prepared the carts and all things requisite set out to fulfil the orders 
of the king, accompanied by a number of merchants. They first 
arrived at the city Muang lilomphon, passed the river Me nam ta 
nim; from thence they went to Phu pha luang, then to the city 
Muang savangkha bure, passing next the river Me nam from kue 
noi (little arm) and finally arriving at the ground of the Brahmin 
village where the Buddha Somanakliodom had formerly collected 
alms. A river divided the village into two parts, the eastern part 
containing 150 houses and the western a hundred. The two 
officers told the Brahmins the intentions of their master whereat 
these greatly rejoiced and they quickly set themselves to the work. 
The labours were divided into three equal parts, the Brahmins 
undertook one, the thai another, and the lao the third. The work 
lasted one year and seven months. When all was completed the 
two officers entrusted the care of the city to the Brahmins and 
returned to Xieng Sen with their carts. Having given the king 
* an account of the happy success of their journey, he was highly 
delighted and quickly assembled the princes and the nobles oi his . 
kingdom, to go with him to celebrate the dedication of the new city. 
He placed at the head of the advanced guard of his army the tw r o 
Cha who had erected the city, sending them on before to open up 
the road, the phaya forming the right and left wings, and the two 
princes Chao trai son rat and Chao xati saklion were ordered to 
form the rear guard. The king and queen put themselves in 
motion with the army and arrived at the new city on the 6th of the 
first month. The king immediately consulted the Brahmins as to 
the name which should be given to their city. These having 
declared that his majesty had arrived under tire constellation phi 
sa nu it should receive that name. The king then named it Phi sa 
nu lok, it was also named Ok ha buri, east and west, in memory oi 
the Buddha Somanakliodom having there asked alms; it still 
bears the name of Chan ta bun. The king built several pagodas 
there, as well as the phaya who had accompanied him. He 
wished also to cast three phuth tha nip (image of Buddha) m 
Sam rith tlii (a kind of bronze) to place in the pagodas which were 
being built. He called for this purpose five able founders ot oaxa 
na lai and one of Hariya phunxai. But in spite of all their 
endeavors they could not contrive to cast even one. The king 
grieved at this, offered his vows for the attainment of a successful 
issue, he also engaged the queen to offer hers for the same purpose. 
She then besought that in virtue of the merits which she had 
