The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. XXIX, Part 1-2, 1936 - Khamkoo
The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. XXIX, Part 1-2, 1936 - Khamkoo
The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. XXIX, Part 1-2, 1936 - Khamkoo
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P'r. n] R. 0. WINBTEDT 161<br />
parties <strong>of</strong> South Indian traders, priests and warriorr:;. 'fhey talked a<br />
colloquial Prakrit, married into leading Indonesiu.n families and introduced<br />
<strong>the</strong> Indian idea.s <strong>of</strong> kingshil). Both Brahmanism and Buddhism<br />
were introduced, <strong>the</strong> btter under <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong> Hinayana. <strong>The</strong>Re Indhtn<br />
emigrants did not content <strong>the</strong>mselves with colonizing Mah1ya but., lmving<br />
crossed <strong>the</strong> peninsula at <strong>the</strong> height <strong>of</strong> Bandon, spread to Sou<strong>the</strong>rn<br />
<strong>Siam</strong>, Cambodia and Annam where <strong>the</strong>y founded <strong>the</strong> "\Yell known sta.tes<br />
<strong>of</strong> Dvaravati, Funan and Charnpa. It is curious t.o note how little<br />
in <strong>the</strong> way <strong>of</strong> sanctuaries or momm1entR <strong>the</strong>se Indictn settlers ha\'e<br />
left in British Ma.laya. It looks like this part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> peninsula was<br />
only used ttl' t1 station en route to those countries where <strong>the</strong> Indian<br />
geninR for statebuilding and art should, bter on, eelebrate <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
greatest triumphs in <strong>the</strong> empireR <strong>of</strong> Cambodia and Jn.va at Angkor<br />
and Borobndur. In <strong>Siam</strong>ese Malaya, however, many remains t1l'e<br />
left <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hindu occupation and ancient Ligor and Chaiya were <strong>the</strong><br />
capitals <strong>of</strong> highly civilized petty States before Cambodia, or Java<br />
reached <strong>the</strong> zenith <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir power and artistic glory.<br />
As <strong>the</strong> question <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Qailendra dynasties iR actual ju~:>t now, and<br />
Dr. (~uaritch Wales' latest discoveries may cast un entirely new light<br />
on <strong>the</strong> connection <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Srivijaya empire in Sumatra with <strong>the</strong><br />
peninsula, <strong>the</strong> writer shall not here pronounce any opinion on <strong>the</strong><br />
author's treatment <strong>of</strong> this period in Malaytt's history hut wait till<br />
more clarity has been obtained with regard to <strong>the</strong>se debatable<br />
matters. It seems that at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>the</strong> Thai threw over <strong>the</strong> Cambodian<br />
rule in <strong>Siam</strong>, Ligor, or Nakhon Srithammamt, was t1n independent<br />
state. But already towards <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 13th century<br />
<strong>the</strong> kings <strong>of</strong>' Sukhothai had conquered <strong>the</strong> entire peninsula right<br />
down to Johore. <strong>The</strong> author'R description <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Malay empire <strong>of</strong><br />
Malacca, <strong>the</strong> M uhammeddan conquest and <strong>the</strong> subsequent disappea.rance<br />
<strong>of</strong> Hindu religion and customs makes interesting reading<br />
indeed. War and women play <strong>the</strong> most important role during those<br />
times, which did not see much constructive stnteRmanship. Next<br />
comes <strong>the</strong> Portuguese period with d'Albuquergue's conquest <strong>of</strong><br />
Malacca in 1511. 1'he Portuguese chapter in <strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> Malaya<br />
is revolting reading, about treachery, cruelty, bigotry and wholesale<br />
massacres. Sir Hugh Clifford savs in his excellent book(l) on <strong>the</strong> exploration<br />
<strong>of</strong> Fur<strong>the</strong>r India that <strong>the</strong> Portuguese misdeeds in <strong>the</strong> Far<br />
East caused <strong>the</strong> bare mention <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir name to stink in <strong>the</strong> nostrils<br />
-<br />
(l) Sir Hugh Clifford-Explomtion <strong>of</strong> Fur<strong>the</strong>r India,