3*

For this reason we have some images of Buddha
which are very beautiful, while others are rather
crude.

Thus, we have seen that Siam emerges out as an
independent kingdom about 1350 A. D. From the
very beginning of its history, Siam is inSuenced by
Indian culture and civilisation. Siam might not have
been colonised by people from India directly, but it
was founded by Indraditya, who had been thoroughly
Indianised. She has taken all the elements of her
culture from India. Her religion, which is Buddhism,
is Indian, her literature is Pali, her manners and cus-
toms are also Indian. For these reasons, we regard
Siam as an Indian colony.

CHAPTER IV.
The Dynasty of Sukhothai.
In telling the story of Siam, we hare to recount
the successive dynastic histories of the kingdoms of
Sukhothai, Ayuthia and Bangkok respectively. In
the course of six centuries the capital of Siam was
gradually shifted from Sukhothai to Ayuthia and thence
to the present capital Bangkok.
The history of Siam commences with the rise of
the kingdom of Sukhothai (Sukhodaya ), for the study
of which we consult the following: