scernible. In manners and customs, the Siamese
minds us of the Indians. In the system of adminis-
ation of Siam, the Indian method still survives,
CHAPTER II.
European Travellers and Writers of Siam,
With the discoverv of the route to the East bv
^ j
le famous traveller VASCO DE GAM A, the European
ations, specially the Portuguese, began to flock to
le East in search of the undiscovered regions of gold.
t was at this time that the eyes of the European
ations fell upon Siam and other rich countries of
ndo-china. With Alphonse D'Albuquerque as their
hief, the Portuguese \vent out on commercial ex-
editions in search of the islands of epices making
lalacca their base. From a letter of Albuquerque
ated the ist. April 1512, we know that he had with
im a Javanese map in which "terra del rrey de
>yam " was indicated.1 He sent an envoy to the king
f Siam with the object of establishing friendly re-
ations with him. The envoy went to Udia (Ayuthia)
rhere resided the king of Siam, the powerful sovereign
>f a rich empire. Udia was an important city on the
>ank of a great river. The king, seated on a high and
iecorated throne, dressed in the Chinese fashion, re-
;eived the messenger of Alphonse D'Albuquerque.
\fter sometime, the king in return sent an envoy to
\lbuquerque with some presents.
1. L. Fourneveau—Le Siaia Ancien, I, p. 4.