of Phs?ey Laa Jeciicu the fate ->! the M'^-Tni r:i;? In
India, the Siamese were busy founding a neq,v capital.
This Indo-Siamese colony was established in tha
thirteenth century A. D., when even in India, the
Hindus had lost their independence except in a feu-
far-off kingdoms. It is fortunate that even when the
British power became supreme in India, this Indo-
Siamese colony did not lose its independence, bur
gained a fresh lease of life by establishing a new
dynasty and a new capital at Bangkok, which continues
to be its capita; even in the present day.

CHAPTER VI.
The Dynasty of Bangkok.
With the establishment of the ne;v capital at
Bangkok and a- new dynasty, begins the modern
period in the history of Siam. Passing through the
medieval period at Ayuthia, it comes to the modern
a^e, when it srill keeps its independence. We know
that various Indian colonies had been established in
the past in Champa, Cambodia, Java and other coun-
tries, but none could survive to the present day except
this kingdom of Siam. As a colony of India, ir still
holds the torch of Indian culture and civilisation in
the far East.
Ayuthia continued to be the capital of the king-
dom of Siam until the year 1767. The fall of Ayuthia
was due to the attacks of the Burmese, who, though
Buddhists, were fighting against the Siamese for a