39

—underwent gradual change, until in the thirteenth
century A, D., they are found to approximate very
nearly the Sukhothai letters inscribed a little later.
The close cultural contact between the two peoples
suggested by the epigraphy, is strongly corroborated
and extended by consideration of the very large bor-
rowings from Cambodia found in Siamese speech,
ceremonial art and government.1

According to Sir Charles Elliot also, this alpha-
bet appears 10 have been borrowed from the Cambo-
dian source, but some of the letters particularly in
their later shapes show the influence of the Mon or
Talaing script.2

We, therefore, conclude that it was from the
alphabets of Camboja that the Siamese alphabets were
borrowed in the time of the king Rama Raja.

The king had his capital at Sukhodaya, of which
a glowing description is given in the royal inscription.
This capital city had four gates, where people throng
in large numbers on ceremonial occasions. As the
king himself was a Buddhist there were great temples
in the city of beautiful image of Buddha. The in-
scription continues: 'There are reverend teachers,
there are venerable monks; there is a Mahathen
( Mahathera, Arch-priest). Toward sunset from this
city of Sukhothai is a forest monastery. Prince Khun

1. Journal of the Siam Society, Vol. X, 1913, p. 11.
2. Hinduism and Buddhism, III, p. 80. n.