THE SOIL. 
33 7 
On occasion, by examination of witnesses and inspection of written 
documents. It is admitted that he who first clears forest-ground, 
■0 
and sows thereon, will be entitled to a written acknowledgement of 
his title to it, under the seals of certain officers. 
Perhaps no nation is more scrupulously exact than the Siamese 
are, in committing to paper an account of such events or transactions 
as are, in the remotest degree, liable to subsequent scrutiny. To po¬ 
litical negotiations or discussions the remark is peculiarly applica¬ 
ble. 
A Chau Naa or cultivatorwho is desirous of clearing ground ap¬ 
plies to the head man of the village. The latter shews his written 
application to the proper officer, who directs him to inspect the land 
and measure it. The applicant having cleared it, receives a written 
title; but although he is not in it vested absolutely with, a right in 
perpetuity; still the land forms thereafter a part of his real pro* 
perty, is alienable by deed of sale, or by gift, and descends to his 
heirs at law. From this it is clear that the King can take advan¬ 
tage of so defective a title. Prescription is the owners best safeguard. 
Plantations and gardens are taxed according to their actual capa¬ 
city of production; and because this must fluctuate greatly, the 
grants which the proprietors received when their trees began to bear 
fruit &c„- are renewed at intervals, and new rates of assessment set¬ 
tled. No allowance seems on these occasions to be made for the 
partial unproductiveness of any portion formerly taxed as productive 
until that becomes excessive. 
According to the Bali Meeleent,hara Milinda Raja, which is a 
compendium of knowledge .and one of the most valued books in the 
country, and one which Siamese Kings affect to respect, there are 
four things which must be attended to by a Prince who is desirous 
that his subjects may prosper—1st. Sats-amed,hemg .* The distri¬ 
bution or loan of grain to the husbandman, and the exaction of one 
I? This and the other Bali words occuring in this paper are rendered ac¬ 
cording to the Siamese conception of their meaning, as I have no dic¬ 
tionary of the Bali language to refer to. But the Sanscrit scholar will 
find no difficulty here, since the Bali is cognate with that language, if 
not its actual root. 
