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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PT. I] TA I POTTERY 17<br />
to prove that <strong>the</strong> C'alieng kilns existed prior to those <strong>of</strong> Sukhot'ai.<br />
<strong>The</strong> latter used utensils <strong>of</strong> C'alieng, but C'alieng did not obtain any<br />
supplies from SiH;:hot'ai, probably because t.he C'alieng article was<br />
superior both as regards clay and finish. This evidence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
existence at Sukhot'ai <strong>of</strong> baked clay pottery unglazed which is not<br />
found in C'alieng, leads me to believe that Sukhot'ai must have<br />
been in existence prior to C'alieng.<br />
3.-THE KAL•}NG KlLNt:i.<br />
I have come across a few specimens <strong>of</strong> pottery (Platesxll to XlV),some<br />
broken, some perfect in form, obtained from Tung Yang in UttarfLdit,<br />
f1·,om Lopburi and from P'ong Tii'k. Examination proves to me that<br />
<strong>the</strong>se specim ens had not <strong>the</strong>ir origin ei<strong>the</strong>r in China, Siikhot'ai or<br />
Sawank'alok. Archaeological and hi storical records which have been<br />
so far considered would seem to sho·w that <strong>the</strong> Tai people came<br />
:,;outh owing to <strong>the</strong> pressure <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chinese, but <strong>the</strong>re can be little<br />
do ubt that <strong>the</strong> Tai people had spread <strong>the</strong>mselves over a vast area<br />
to <strong>the</strong> north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Mekhong prior to <strong>the</strong> Chinese pressure on <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
<strong>The</strong> locality which I wish to talk about now is, in <strong>the</strong> modern province<br />
<strong>of</strong> C'ieng Rai , which is <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rnmost province <strong>of</strong> <strong>Siam</strong>. I<br />
wrote to a friend <strong>the</strong>re to obtain specim ens for me, laying stress on<br />
t,h e importance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir being dug up. Subsequently I received a cup,<br />
a salt cellar and a broken lamp, accompanied by a letter saying that<br />
<strong>the</strong>se articles had been picked up in levelling a landing ground for<br />
airplanes. When I compared t he clay and t he enamel ·with o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
examples in my possession I was fo rced to <strong>the</strong> conclusion that<br />
pottery kilns existed iu <strong>the</strong> north too, and I <strong>of</strong>fered a reward to<br />
any one who could point out <strong>the</strong> site <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> kil ns. In F ebruary<br />
1933 I received information that kilns had been discovered at<br />
Wieng Papao. Broken pieces <strong>of</strong> pottery coll ected in <strong>the</strong> vicinity<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se kilns were also sent to 111e. I t ook <strong>the</strong> opportunity to<br />
visit <strong>the</strong>m. I started from C'ieng Rai, travelling by motor along<br />
<strong>the</strong> main road for 29 kilometres. Th ere <strong>the</strong> road for C'ieng Rai<br />
branches <strong>of</strong>[ I had now to use ponies and carriers because <strong>the</strong><br />
country vvas intersected by hills. I came to Arnp'ho' Me S(r)uei at a<br />
distance <strong>of</strong> 26km. from t he main road, and continued my joum ey to<br />
\Vieng Papao at a furth er distance o£ 31 kilometres. From tbe latter<br />
place I had to go south 15 kilometres, and <strong>the</strong>n branching <strong>of</strong>f to <strong>the</strong> left<br />
at a distance <strong>of</strong> a kilometre I arrived at <strong>the</strong> kilns. <strong>The</strong> general direct-