CHAPTER III.
The Colonisation of Siam.
The modern kingdom of Siam, which forms a
major part of the Indo-Chinese Peninsula, is inhabited
by Thais and Laotians, who may be traced to the
ethnic family of the Thais or free men coming down
from the Tibetan plateaux into Indo-China.
Siam is the youngest of all the kingdoms which
grew up in the Greater India beyond the seas. It
comes out very late as an independent kingdom. Its
early history forms part and parcel of the great king-
dom of Camboja. The legendary period extends
from the earliest times to the foundation of Ayuthia in
the thirteenth century. This early history chiefly
consists of legends and fables, which go back even to
the fifth century B. C. claiming the ruling king as
descendant of some of the disciples of Lord Buddha.
It is true that the Indians had begun to settle in Siara
in the early centuries of the Christian era, but Siam at
that time had no independent existence. The Siamese
tried to free themselves from the Cambojan Vassalage,
but were not successful until the thirteenth century.
The real history of Siam is the record of three
kingdoms in succession with capitals at Sukhothai,
Ayuthia and Bangkok respectively. The names of
the first two capitals show Indian influence. They
may be rendered into Sanskrit as Sukhodaya and
AyodhyU.