Michael Smithies and Dhiravat na Pombejra

Instructions Given to the Siamese Envoys Sent to Portugal, 16841

full account of the troubled Siamese em- the first ambassador had to be abandoned and A bassy to Portugal is given in Michael several of the party died; the survivors spent Smithies, A Siamese Embassy Lost in Africa, “nearly four months” at the Cape recovering 1686: The Odyssey of Ok-Khun Chamnan.2 and waiting for a ship to take them to Batavia, Chamnan was one of the six mandarins accom- embarked (on the Dutch ship Sint-Martendsdijk) panying the three Siamese ambassadors early September, reached Batavia in November, (the ratchathut, uppathut, and trithut) sent by and waited until June 1687 for a ship to Phra Narai to return “a very important embassy” take them to Siam, which they reached in sent to Siam by the King of Portugal, Pedro September.4 II (regent from 1667, king 1683-1706). Professor Van der Cruysse, in his Louis XIV Chamnan’s account is derived from Fr Tachard’s et le Siam,5 indicates that a trader from Macao, seventh book of his Second Voyage,3 but the Pero Vaz de Siqueira led an embassy from the dates and periods of time the embassy spent Portuguese viceroy at Goa to Phra Narai in 1685; waiting for ships often do not agree. According it was received in Lopburi and left Ayutthaya 23 to Chamnan, as recorded by Fr Tachard, the June without having obtained its request for Siamese left “towards the end of March 1684”, extraterritoriality for Portuguese subjects and spent more than five months reaching Goa, without having settled the disputes with the missed the Portuguese fleet to Lisbon, and had French missionaries (of the Missions Etrangères to wait “nearly eleven months in Goa” for the in Paris). He held that the king of Siam next. They were said to have left Goa (on the therefore decided to send “the following year Nossa Senhora dos Milagros) on 27 January an embassy to Portugal” and it was this mission 1686 and were shipwrecked off Cape Agulhas which boarded the Nossa Senhora dos Milagros about midnight on 27 April. On 28 May they which was shipwrecked in April 1686.6 This arrived at the Dutch settlement on the Cape raises considerable problems of dates; it would after an arduous journey overland during which have been impossible for Chamnan and the

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embassy of which he was a part to have left Siam Siamese mission to Lisbon which, all agree, in 1686, spent nearly a year in Goa, and still be suffered shipwreck in 1686 and which failed to shipwrecked off southern Africa in April the reach its destination. same year. The text below, written in French, is located However, the embassy to Portugal was in the archives of the Missions Etrangères apparently not sent in return for the Siquiera/ in Paris (AME 854, ff.721-727). It was first Goa mission. In a letter from Arnout Faa and published in full in Alain Forest’s Les council to Cornelis van Quaalberg and council Missionaires français au Tonkin et au Siam, in Malacca, dated Siam 13 November 1684 XVIIe-XVIIIe siècles, Bk 1, Histoires de Siam (VOC 1407), Faa relates (fs 2808v-2809) that (Paris, L’Harmattan, 1998), pp.429-436. We King Narai’s embassy to Portugal had left should like to record our thanks to Professor Ayutthaya, at a date unspecified, for Goa. Forest and to his publisher L’Harmattan for their Chamnan/Tachard’s date for departure of March agreement to translate this extremely important 1684 is therefore possibly correct, and the document. instructions given to the embassy must date from Professor Forest writes: “This text certainly before 13 November 1684, possibly by as much inspired some accounts written subsequent to as seven months. Certainly the embassy left the Franco-Siamese embassies [of 1685-88], some time between March and November, and notably that of La Loubère. The document is it seems likely that Chamnan and the rest of the very difficult to read; La Loubère moreover Siamese embassy did indeed leave Goa late in made a number of errors in transcribing the January 1686 on the ill-fated Nossa Senhora dos proper names in it. But I have certainly com- Milagros to be shipwrecked towards the end of mitted some errors myself and I leave to linguists April off Cape Agulhas. the task of eventually transforming these into a There exists the remote possibility that there more correct transcription than that of the is confusion between the sending of a Siamese missionaries of the seventeenth century, whose mission to the Portuguese viceroy in Goa and ‘pp’, for example, should be read ‘ph’, ‘tt’ stands an embassy to the king himself in Lisbon. It for ‘th’, ‘aa’ should be ‘â’, ‘ae’ should be ‘ay’ would seem that, however much Phra Narai was and so on.” anxious to establish and maintain contacts with Additions in round brackets are by Professor European monarchs, he is unlikely to have Forest; those in square brackets are ours. been so extravagant as to send two missions Professor Forest’s footnotes are included with effectively to the same ruler so close to each the prefix AF; all others are ours. other. Quite simply, it would seem that King (721) If you are asked what rank you have, Narai had intended to send an embassy to Reply that one of you is ookphra (okphra), Portugal before receiving the Siquiera mission another is ooklouang (okluang) and another from Goa, doubtless to cement relations with a ookon (okon) [okkhun]; that ookpra is similar long-standing (if distant and impoverished) to a marquis, ooklouang similar to a count, and ally. We lack, though, information about the ookon is similar to a man of noble birth. “very important embassy” sent, according to Chamnan/Tachard, by the King of Portugal to If you are asked what positions and functions Siam, probably before 1684. you hold at court, All embassies depart with written, and Reply that you were serving under the colours sometimes (often secret) verbal instructions. and in the army. The Siamese were no exception in this matter. What we are examining here are the written If you are asked about the health of the king instructions, not in the Siamese original but in of Siam, an incomplete French translation, given to the Reply that he is in good health.

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If you are asked how are the princess, the [Phetchaburi] where four kings reigned in 163 princes, all the most important mandarins, and years. Finally, after that, the king Sommedethia all the court Praa Raamaattibodi Bopptra13 who succeeded Reply that all the court is in perfect health him [sic] constructed the city of Siam in 1894 and happy to be under the rule of the great king which is today the capital of the kingdom and is of Siam. The first minister (phra khlang Lek?7) called Krong Tteppa Ppra Maha Nacoora Sri who governed the state for more than twenty Outeyaa [Krungthep Phra Maha Si Ayutthaya] years with quite extraordinary wisdom and and where he reigned a further twenty-seven prudence died a few months ago from a rather years. Thus there were fifty kings in 926 years. long illness. (722) If you are asked from what point you If you are asked the name of the king, how calculate... (unreadable) [your calendar?], he is addressed, and his age, Reply that it is from the death of the god Reply that when he was crowned he was Sommanacoodom (Gautama) [the Buddha] and called Sommedethia Ppra Naareyya (Phra Narai) his entry into nirvana, which took place 2,226 Raachaattirat Chaadi Souriawongsa. Since his years previously.14 coronation, he is called Sommedethia Ppra Maahaa Kresatritti8 Raacha Thian Ppou Yä. But If you are asked how many sons, and princes when he writes letters to some other kings he of the blood the king has, takes yet another name which describes all his Reply that he has a daughter,15 two qualities. He is fifty years old. brothers,16 and there are several princes of the blood and royal race. If you are pushed to pronounce and explain the name of the king, If you are asked about the age of the prin- Say that all the words which constitute it are cess, the daughter of the king, and the princes, in Pali and very difficult [ones], and you fear Reply that the princess is twenty-five years being unable to explain it adequately and of old; one of the princes of thirty-nine years old, making yourselves guilty on this account. and the other is twenty-nine.

If you are asked of what royal race is the If you are asked how the palace is built and if reigning king, if it is ancient, if the city of Siam it is big, [Ayutthaya] is ancient or recently built, and what Reply that it has three walls of brick and are the most ancient towns in the kingdom, stone, that the palace is very big, spacious, and Reply that the reigning king descends from elevated; that in the middle there is a very high the great king Sommedethia Ppra Pattarma tower or pyramid constructed partly in stone, Souria Naaranissavoora Boppitra Seangae9 who brick and wood and gilded all over; that the roof reigned in the city of Chaya Ppaha Mahanokora is covered in calin.17 There is also in the palace (Angkor)10 in 1300 (of the Buddhist era) [AD a fine garden with flowers, handsome rows of 756-7] and there were ten kings after him in the trees and a number of fountains: this is in the city. Then King Sommedethia Prayasouttora third enclosure. In the other two enclosures there Ttarrena Ttepperaraacchaatti built the city of are also gardens with all kinds of flowers, large Yassouttora Nacoora Louang11 and twelve kings ornamental lakes with their fountains, many reigned there. Then the king Sommedethia principal buildings, chambers entirely covered Pprappanom Tteleiseri Maahesa Vorauaarintti with calin and gilded, with a menagerie com- Raacha Boppitra12 went to dwell in Soucouttae prising several different animals. (Sukhothai). And in the year 1731 [AD 1157- 8], he constructed the city of Pochebouri

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If you are asked if the city of Siam is large, There are horses but not in such great Reply that it is on an island surrounded by a numbers. Moreover they are not necessary, since broad and fine river which is called Meenam, when one goes to the hunt or to war, normally that is, Mother of Waters. It is surrounded by a one has to pass through dense forests, which brick wall. The circumference of the city is 6,000 horses cannot do so easily [as elephants]. spans or 300 senne (sen). (723) If you are asked if the kingdom of Siam If you are asked if it is hot or cold in Siam, is populous, Reply that there are three seasons in the year, Reply that it is heavily populated21 and that the hot which is not...(unreadable), the cold, and in the capital there are many foreigners from all the rainy season. [manner of] kingdoms.

If you are asked why the king goes to Louvo If you are asked what are the tributary (Lopburi), and what is this city like, kingdoms of Siam and what are the kingdoms Reply that three hundred years before it was adjacent to it, and how many provinces there the place where the kings resided and that it was are, left almost entirely ruined, but the present king Reply that there are eight provinces22 in the has caused it to be rebuilt; he has had a palace upper part, or the north. The first province is constructed there in which he nearly always that of Porcelouc, Pissenoulouc (Phitsanulok) remains, and also this place is close to the is the chief city. It has ten other towns which forests where he goes to distract himself depend on and are included in that province, hunting elephants, tigers, and other beasts. by name the towns of Mueang Nacoor Ttae (muang Nakhon Thai), Mueang Chaatetaan If you are asked to which countries the king (Chattrakan?),23 Mueang Chaebonne, Mueang of Siam sends ambassadors, Seri Ppram, Mueang Trenom, Mueang Choms- Reply that formerly he sent and received sora Samdeng, Mueang Séeng Soncramme ambassadors from China, Japan, Persia, Ava [Chumsaeng Songkhram], Mueang Pippat [Burma], and [the] Lao. At present embassies Songcramme, Mueang Ppiboune, [and] Mueang with Japan, Ava, and Laos are suspended. Nacoora Paamaac. Recently, a new mission has been sent to France, The second province is that of Sevanne whose ambassadors have not yet returned.18 Loucka (Sawankhalok), with the chief city of The country is at war with Ava and Laos. Con- the same name, where there are eight towns, cerning Japan, the embassies sent there are very being Mueang Ppissetcousanne, Mueang rare, but ships go there every year. Pissanechaesat [Phiset Chaisat], Mueang Ppiren Songramme, Mueang Ppirao Morenarongt, If you are asked if there are many elephants Mueang Seraae Ppraam, Mueang Rekaa, in the kingdom, Mueang Chivitabouri, [and] Mueang Sippana Say that there is no kingdom in which there Maat. are finer nor more numerous beasts, that there The third province is that of Soucouttae are two white elephants to which much respect (Sukhothai), whose chief city has the same name, is shown, that there are in the city of Siam at where there are seven towns, by name Mueang least 400 pavilions for the finest, that there are Nacoora Yong, Mueang Cooracraat [Kongkrailat?], also outside the city many others, that even in Mueang Quiriamaat (Khirimat), Mueang all the important towns there are many. Not a Raachattani,24 Mueang Seri Songcramme, year passes without the Moors19 buying for the Mueang Raamappichit, [and] Mueang Ritti Mogul20 two to three hundred. Reuchae (or “Venchae”?).

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The fourth province is that of Camppeng Ppet This is roughly the list of the towns in the (Kamphaeng Phet), whose chief city has the upper part. same name and which has ten towns,25 by name Mueang Ttesse, Mueang Traetreung [Traitrung],26 There are also those in the lower part. The Mueang Bouraane Raachaa [Boranrat], Mueang first province there is that of Yohorre (Johore), Chieng Ngeune [Chiang Ngoen], Mueang formerly a [separate] kingdom. The chief city Chieng Ttong [Chiang Thong],27 Mueang bears the same name. It has seven towns, by Koussamme Ppuanne [Kosamphinin], Mueang name Mueang Pahang, Mueang Inttaquiri, Baanne Pperabouri, Mueang Taat (Tak), [and] Mueang Bangcali, Mueang Sia, Mueang Trang Mueang Chieng Leudet. Kaanu (Trengganu), Mueang Coungonne, [and] The fifth province is that of Raachasimaa Mueang Dili. [Korat] whose chief city is Nacoorna Raacha- The second province is that of Taani (Pattani). simaa (Nakhon Ratchasima), which has five The chief city has this name, [and] it has eight towns, by name Mueang Ppimae (Phimai), towns (724), by name Mueang Klannetanne Mueang Pachom [Pak Chong?], Mueang [Kelantan], Mueang Saae, Mueang Pinkra, Chaia Vadaanne [Chaibadan], Mueang Mueang Plessout, Mueang Meong, Mueang Campper(r)aane, [and] Mueang Ppeong [Pon?]. Krevann, Mueang Tteppao (Thepha), [and] The sixth is that of Pocheboune (Phetchabun), Muang Sacomme Si Ttarema. whose chief city has the same name, and which The third, the chief city of which bears the has two towns, Mueang Thiantta Vanao and name Mueang Naccora Si Ttaremaraacha Mueang Crae Nacoora Et. (Nakhon Si Thammarat), has twenty towns, by The eighth28 is Pichaia (Phichai), which is name Mueang Sangcalaat [Songkhla/Singora],30 the name of the chief city and which has seven Muean Chaiaa (Chaya) [Chaiya], Mueang towns, namely Mueang Bang Ppon, Mueang Ttamttong [Tha Thong], Mueang Ppouneppin Hang, Mueang Lablee [Laplae], Mueang Ppippat (Phunphin), Mueang Chaacram, Mueang Klaae, [Muang Phiphat], Mueang Ppateboune [Muang Mueang Ppichienne, Mueang Ppenang [Pak Pattabun], Mueang Trevantri Soune, [and] Phanang?], Mueang Kour?, Mueang Proome, Mueang Phiboune Patthiimme. Mueang Trang, Mueang Ttelang (Thalang), Mueang Bangcali (Phangnga) [Bangkhli], In addition there are twelve other towns29 to Mueang Texoua (Takua), Mueang Ppoungaa the north which do not depend in any way on [Phangnga], Mueang Ppouket (Phuket), Mueang those we have already named. They are the Ttaasong [Thung Song?], Mueang Chaiamontri, towns of Mueang Ppithitaoa, Mueang Nacoora Mueang Ttaebouri (Thaiburi),31 [and] Mueang Savanne (Nakhon Sawan), Mueang Chaenaat Maieng. (Chainat), Mueang Outtaya Ttaani (Uthai Mueang Trenaouseri (Tenasserim)32 is the Thani), Mueang Manouromme (Manorom), chief city of the second province of the same Mueang Inttabouri [Inburi], Mueang Promma- name33 and has twelve towns, namely Mueang bouri (Phromburi), Mueang Louppabouri Merit (Mergui), Mueang Socoorabouri, Mueang (Lopburi), Mueang Sourabouri (Saraburi), Meenam,34 Mueang Thing, Mueang Langcereüi, Mueang Nacoora Naayoc (Nakhon Nayok), Mueang Plo, Mueang Pelaa (Palaw), Mueang Mueang Prathiine (Prachin), Mueang Ang Kantooc, Mueang Tvac, Mueang Pee (Pe), Ttong (Ang Thong), Mueang Kannebouri Mueang Pela (Pala), [and] Mueang Kouttee. [Kan(chana)buri?], Mueang Chattreung Tteraa The third province is that of Chianteboune [Chachoengsai?], Mueang Chaeyouc [Saiyok?], (Chantabun). The chief city has the same name, Mueang Seri Souassedi [Si Sawat], Mueang [and] it has seven towns, namely Mueang Ttong Pattoume [Thong Phaphum?], [and] Reyong (Rayong), Mueang Clong (Khlung), Mueang Ttong Ttaatri [Thong Thaphi]. Mueang Kleeng (Klaeng), Mueang Traat (Trad),

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Mueang Uenne, Mueang Bang Lemong (Bang [Arakan?],42 [and] from Racang to Bengal, Lamung), [and] Mueang Bang Pra. which belongs to the Mogul. The fourth is the province of Ppatlong (Phattalung). The chief city has the same name; To the west is the kingdom of Ttevaae it has eight towns, by name Mueang Chaerat, (Tavoy) which ... (unreadable). Mueang Sannetang, Mueang Vangseung, Mueang Pequeut, Mueang Pleuenanne, Mueang To the south, there is Ligor or Nacoorra Si Ppetong, Mueang Pleuongsa, [and] Mueang Ttaremaraacha (Nakhon Si Thammarat). From Ratappoumi (Ratphum). there one goes to Ppattalong (Phatthalung), then The fifth province is that of Chaevonne to Taanni (Pattani), to Yohor (Johore) where... (Chaya?).35 The chief city has the same name; (unreadable); then one is outside the limits of it has two towns, by name Mueang Satonne and Siam. From there, one goes to Mueang Predolla. Mueang Thiangou. To the west, one goes to the town of There are, in addition to the above-mentioned Kannethiabouri (Kanchanaburi) which is the towns, thirteen other towns36 which are not de- last town [in Siamese territory]. From there one pendent on nor below any of the said provinces. goes to Mueang Lacleung [Molamleung, or By name these are Mueang Nonnettabouri Moulmein?] and to Mueang Motema [Motama, (Nonthaburi), Mueang Ttonbouri (Thonburi), that is Martaban], from there one goes to Mueang Ppet Pradeeng (Phetchaburi),37 Ttongssaa, to Mueng Toong Ou (Toungoo), [to] Mueang Suacoorabouri [Sakhonburi],38 Mueang Mueang Pronne (Prome), and finally to Ava. Chonebouri (Chonburi), Mueang Nacooraquirii (Khiri), Mueang Kouiabouri (Kuiburi), Mueang (725) From Porcelouc (Phitsanulok) to reach Prannebouri (Pranburi), Mueang Chommep- Tonquin [Tonkin], one goes from the town of poonne (Chumphon) [and] Mueng Ppenom.39 Porcelouc to Mueang Ppae (Phrae), to Mueang Naanne (Nan), to Mueang Cheinrong [Chiang All the chief cities, or rather, [all the] gover- Rung], [and] Meenam Quiaou43 which is on the nors of these towns either bring or send each frontiers of Tonquin. year, in recognition, a gold and a silver flower,40 and all the other towns which are not chief When one goes from Siam to Koorasema cities either bring or send each year a specific (Korat) and one goes up, one passes Pochebonne sum of money in local currency [?], as has been (Phetchabun) which is at the extremity of the agreed. country.44 From there one can reach the king- dom of Seri Sattanaac or Louanne Chang (Lan The kingdom of Siam has to the north Xang). From there, one can go to Tonquin, Chiengmae (Chiangmai). From Chiengmae one China, Cocinchine [Cochin-China], [and] goes, further up, to Mueang Quemeraacha Ciampa (Champa). [Muang Khemarat], and from there to Mueang Meenne Naaou, and from Meenne Naaou to To the east, one enters the province of China. To go to Ava, from Chiengmae, one goes Camppucheattibodi (Cambodia)45 which is at the to Muang Ttaatang, from there to Mueang Hang, limits of Louanne Chang if one goes to from there to Mueang Chiang Hong, from there Cocinchine or Ciampa. to Mueang Naae, from there to Mueang Yonghou, from there to Mueang Kangtaa, and When one leaves the kingdom by sea and one finally from there to Vatenaboura Angua,41 or goes by the eastern seaboard, there are several Ava; from Ava [one goes] to Keechee, from there towns along the coasts, among which one of the to Requeung (Chittagong), from there to Racang most important is the town of Chantaboune

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(Chantabun). From there one goes to Paacnam battalions, sometimes nine. Sometimes only one (Paknam),46 that is, in the roads of Camppat- person commands nine and ten battalions, some chaottibodi. only command seven, others five, others three according to necessity. Each battalion has its To the west, one comes across the roads of chief. There are also the left and right flanks. Ppochebouri (Phetchaburi), Ligor, Ppatlong The advance guard and the rearguard also have (Phattalung), Tani (Pattani), Yohorre (Joghore), a right and left flank. Each battalion has (726) Malakaa [Malacca], Mueang Clang (Kelang), several companies, and here too are advance and Mueang Prè, Mueang Cherae, Mueang Trang, rear guards. Mueang Ttelong [Thalang] or Joncalan And nearly all the officers in the army are (Jongselan) [Phuket], Bangari (Phangnga) mounted on elephants trained in war. There are [Bangkhli], Tenaouseri (Tenasserim), Ttevae no officers who do not have several other (Tavoy), Siriang (Syriam), Settouai (Sitwe), elephants in their retinue. In addition to that, Requeung (Chittagong) or Racang,47 and finally there are many elephants, some used for Mueang Het.48 carrying baggage, others munitions, others firearms, sabres, lances, and others cold steel If you are asked why the king of Siam sends [weapons]; yet others are loaded with small ambassadors to Portugal, what he desires, and artillery pieces which are fired from them with if he has need of anything, two Siamese inch (calibres?). Others are used Reply that he is only sending you to to transport victuals for the army. establish a strong and stable friendship between The cavalry or those mounted on horses the two crowns of Portugal and Siam; but that follow those mounted on elephants and are they [sic] have the design of some items which armed with muskets, sabres, [and] short swords. the king desires to obtain. The foot soldiers are armed with arrows, sabres, and lances. To transport the [main] artillery, If you are asked what trade goods and what buffaloes and oxen are used. unusual items there are in the kingdom Reply that one finds in the mountains...(words If you are asked how one fights, missing), that one also finds in... (unreadable) Reply that when one is within reach of the of fowls, tin, calin, lead, saltpetre, [gun]powder, cannons or muskets one... (unreadable), but also gold, sandalwood, ... (unreadable), wax, incense, after that one uses cold steel and sabres. Those cheran,49 gamboge,50 birds’ nests, loquat fruits,51 mounted on elephants fight against their enemies pepper, elephants’ teeth,52 areca [nuts], coconut on elephants, the cavalry fight the [enemy] oil, deer and cow skins, spun and raw cotton, horsemen, and the foot soldiers the enemy foot ray53 skins, teak wood, rice, and salt. soldiers.

If you are asked if the Siamese sometimes go If you are asked if there is a difference in the to war, army when the king is present, Reply that they do, and have taken several Reply that there is no difference, except that towns and won many battles. there are more people and there is greater mag- nificence either in the arms or in the uniforms. If you are asked how warfare and attacks are conducted in Siam If you are asked if cannons are cast in the Reply that normally... (a word is missing: the kingdom of Siam or if they are obtained from army?) has its general who has fifteen regiments. elsewhere, In addition there are the advance guard and Reply that they are cast in Siam itself, in all the rearguard which form sometimes fifteen sizes, from [the time of] the coronation of the

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present king, and there are as many as is needed If you are asked if the country is fertile and for the defence of the kingdom. plentiful, Reply that it is extremely so, and supplies What should be done to be raised to the rank victuals to all the neighbouring kingdoms. It also of mandarin, what service must one have given abounds in all kinds of fruits. the crown,54 Reply that those who are military officers If you are asked how one builds in Siam, have only reached this rank through their good Reply that structures are built with bricks and service; that those who are not military officers wood. acquired or continue to acquire this rank through the services they render the kingdom, through If you are asked if there are many foreigners their talent, good conduct, prudence, and other in Siam, qualities of great men. Reply that there are Portuguese, Spaniards, French, English, Dutch, Chinese, Japanese, If you are asked if there are many mandarins Moors and Malays, and several other nations. and how many ranks there are, Some are in the king’s service, others are Reply that it is the custom in Siam to have merchants on their own account. six principal [persons] on whom the king depends for the whole kingdom. They are the The merchants in Siam, where do the barcalong (phra khlang) who looks after the conduct their trade, king’s revenues (?), the taxes and contributions, Reply that they go to all the principal cities the stores and the chief and most important in the Indies. cities of lower Siam, that is to the south, who is even above the governors, who is responsible If you are asked what the foreigners who for the foreigners, who receives ambassadors, come to trade bring to Siam, and who replies to the letters of the said Amb... Reply that the Moors from Surat,60 the (sic). The second is the praklaahom (phra 61 kalahom) who is the supreme general of all the English too who are accustomed to the trade, armies and at the same time the grand master of the Persians, the Moors from Bengal and 62 the artillery, and who has charge of all arms and Masulipatam bring fabrics, textiles, drugs, war munitions. The third is the maaha (or carpets and other things from their countries. “semouha”?) naayoc (chakri)55 who commands The Chinese bring gold, silk fabrics and and is placed over all the governors of the towns brocades, [raw] silk, porcelain, tea, ... (unread- to the north (727) and is in charge of the police able), and several other items. The Cochin- 63 and highways. The fourth is the pprayoomeracha Chinese bring copper, calambac, silk fabrics (phra yomrât) [Phraya Yomarat] who is the and raw silk. The Japanese bring gold, silver, great... (unreadable).56 The fifth is the superin- copper, and porcelain. Those from Macao bring tendent of the palace.57 The sixth is ppollettop silks, porcelain, and tutaneg.64 Those from (polethep) [Phonlathep] who has charge of the Manila bring silver filigree work, precious land.58 stones, [and]... (unreadable). The Malays bring All the other mandarins have also their pepper, rattans, cayans,65 eagle-wood,66 ... offices. (unreadable), sappanwood [and] ... (unreadable).

If you are asked if the soldiers are paid, and If you are asked what all these merchants take how much they are paid, from Siam to their countries, Reply in the affirmative and that the salaries Reply that they take calin, lead, iron, saltpe- are very different, some receiving more, some tre, sandalwood,67 wax, gum benzoin, gamboge, less.59 birds’ nests, cheran,68 loquat fruits, pepper,

Journal of the Siam Society 90.1 & 2 (2002)

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elephants’ teeth, dried areca, coconut oil, deer Note and buffalo skins, rice and salt. A lot of merchandise is found there which comes from 1 The document is undated, but is thought by outside [the country]. Professor Forest to be from about the end of 1684. If you are asked what is the nationality of Mr 2 Chiang Mai, Silkworm Books, 1999. Constance,69 where he comes from, and what 3 Second Voyage du Père Tachard et des office he holds, Jésuites envoyez par le Roy au Royaume de Reply that he is Greek by nationality, [but] Siam..., Paris, Horthemels, 1689. came from England, that he (offered himself?) 4 On 16 February 1686 the Dutch vessel for... (here is a break and the text ends). Stavenisse was shipwrecked slightly to the east of the point where two months later the Nossa The text unfortunately stops when it begins Senhora dos Milagros was wrecked. The account to become particularly interesting. One would of those who survived was published in 1922 in very much have liked to know how the position Vol. XX of Linschoten Vereniging (Reize in of Phaulkon was to be explained away to the Zuid-Afrika in de Hollandsche tijd, t. III, pp. Portuguese, as well as, possibly, that of other 50-68). We are indebted to Professor Van der foreigners working for the crown. Cruysse for this information. But it must be noted that the very fact that 5 Paris, Fayard, 1991, p.297. the French missionaries were able to lay hands 6 This information was based on Dhiravat na on this document, and find the time to translate Pombejra’s PhD thesis, A Political History of it in part, indicates they had very well placed Siam under the Prasatthong Dynasty, Univer- agents at court; in short, their spy service was sity of London, 1984, making use of a letter of excellent. They had no particular interest in the Joannes Keijts in Siam to the Governor-General details of Lusinato-Siamese relations, except in in Batavia, dated 17 December 1685 (VOC so far as it concerned the Portuguese claim to a General State Archives, The Hague). pre-emptive right to missionary work in the 7 Okya Kosathibodi Lek, whose service Indies, by virtue of the padroado, an agreement Phaulkon joined soon after arriving in Siam, worked out by Pope Alexander VI in 1494, but according to Fr de Bèze (E.W. Hutchinson, 1688 the Siamese were unlikely to broach the religious Revolution in Siam, 1968, pp.13-15) pocketed a question in their mission to Lisbon. bribe of 1,500 livres offered by persons bound This document then not only provides the to provide unpaid corvée services for building form of instructions given to embassies during new fortifications which Phaulkon designed, the reign of Phra Narai, exceptional in itself, but saying there were not necessary. The king learnt also details of replies to anticipated questions. of this, Lek was flogged, fell ill, and died soon Many replies were clearly evasive; the question after in disgrace. of giving the king’s name is fudged, the extent 8 Somdet Phra Maha Krasatriyathirat, a of and towns in the kingdom is obviously meant general appellation for kings after coronation. to overwhelm the listener, the details of the 9 Most probably Somdet Phra Pathuma Suriya- organization of the army are vague, and some wong, an early, legendary king of Sukhothai. replies are downright untruths (e.g. Siamese 10 We doubt this. troops were not paid). 11 This is definitely Angkor. It is nevertheless a most precious document 12 Unidentifiable, but since he reigned in for historians of Siam, for its like does not, as Sukhothai he must have been of Si Intharathit’s far as is known, exist in the reign of Phra Narai, dynasty. or in the following century. 13 Somdet Phra Ramathibodi Bophit, Ramathibodi I, r.1351-1369,or King Uthong.

Journal of the Siam Society 90.1 & 2 (2002)

07 P125-135 133 8/8/05, 14:43 134 MICHAEL SMITHIES AND DHIRAVAT NA POMBEJRA

14 AF: This seems to be an error, as the entry 35 We do not think this is Chaiya, since Chaiya of the Buddha into nirvana took place in 543 is already classified as a muang under Ligor. BC for the Siamese or 544 BC according to 36 Only ten are named. Westerners, so one should be in the year 2227- 37 We disagree; this seems almost certainly to 2228 of the Buddhist era. be Phra Pradaeng. 15 Kromluang Yothathep, Phra Narai’s only 38 That is, Samut Sakhon. child, Chao Fa (Princess) Sudawadi. She was 39 What the Portuguese, had they (or anyone forced to become queen to the usurper king else) heard this list, might have made of it is Phetracha. speculative. 16 In fact half-brothers; the elder was known 40 They were in fact miniature gold and silver as Chao Fa Aphaitot, and the younger as Chao trees. Fa Noi. 41 The formal Thai appellation of Ava is 17 An alloy of tin. Ratanapura Angwa. 18 This refers to the 1680 embassy which was 42 If Racang is Arakan, then it should come lost at sea, and the follow-up mission of okkhun before Requeung, if the latter is Chittagong. Pichai Walit and okkhun Pichit Maitri which left See note 47 below. in 1684 and returned the following year with the 43 AF: Probably a stream called Quiaou. Chaumont embassy. 44 The concept of definite, mapped borders did 19 Muslim Indians. not exist in Siam, as has been demonstrated by 20 Aurangzeb, the Great Mogul, b. 1618, r. Thongchai Winichakul in Siam Mapped (1994). 1658-1707. 45 Kamphuchathibodi is indeed Cambodia. 21 By general agreement it was thinly popu- 46 The mouth of the Chantaburi river rather lated until very recent times. than Paknam at the mouth of the Chao Phraya. 22 AF: In reality seven; the text goes directly 47 This appears to contradict what we were told from the sixth to the eighth. above, namely that Requeung (Chittagong) and 23 AF is uncertain of this; we confirm it. Racang (Arakan?) were two different places. 24 Probably Muang Ratchathani, i.e. royal city, 48 Again, this collection of names would have or the old capital. been largely meaningless to a Western audience. 25 Only nine are named. 49 Probably chunan, prepared lime. 26 On the Ping, south of the provincial capi- 50 A gum resin used as a yellow pigment and tal. as a purgative. 27 Muang Chiang Ngoen and Muang Chiang 51 “loucquebaou” in the original, probably Thong are both listed in some old Thai docu- luk krabao. Krabao is given as “a tree of ments. the genus Hydnocarpus, closely allied to the 28 AF: The text therefore makes no mention chaulmoogra”, in So Setthabutra’s New Model of the seventh province. Thai- English Dictionary. The fruit is edible, 29 Eighteen are listed. while the seeds produce a certain kind of oil used, 30 We propose this since Songkhla/Singora is like the chaulmoogra, to treat leprosy and skin not mentioned elsewhere. ailments. 31 We think this might be Saiburi, i.e.Kedah. 52 Tusks, i.e. ivory. 32 Tenasserim in Thai is Tanaosi. 53 “plaa quebéne” in the original. 33 AF: One returns to the “second” province 54 The translator here, and a little later, varies in the south, after that of Nakhon Si Thammarat, the formula . as if the kingdom of Johore and the principality 55 Samuha nayok, the Chakri minister. of Pattani had been added to the list. 56 La Loubère: “The President of the Tribunal 34 This is obviously a town on a river, but of the City of Siam, to whom all the Appeals of which river, where?

Journal of the Siam Society 90.1 & 2 (2002)

07 P125-135 134 8/8/05, 14:43 Instructions Given to the Siamese Envoys Sent to Portugal, 1684 135

the Kingdom go, they call Yumrat” (London, 64 Zinc. 1693, p.88). 65 A Malay word, kacang, meaning beans. 57 La Loubère gives his title as Oc-ya Vang Gerrit J. Knaap, in Shallow Waters, Rising Tide [ok-phra Wang]. (Leiden, 1996), a book on shipping in late 58 La Loubère: “The Country Revenues are eighteenth century Java, mentions there were received by Oc-ya Polatep” (1693, p.93) mainly two kinds of kacang traded, the green 59 This is untrue. The troops received type and the peanut variety. nothing. 66 Also known as aquilaria, agalloch, 60 An important trading port on the north-west calambac, and aloes-wood; it was also one of coast of India. Siam’s chief exports at the time. 61 Or “to trade in Surat”. 67 Mai fang, used as a dye wood and for its 62 Another important trading post, to the north fragrance, it sold particularly well, as a Siamese of Madras on the Bay of Bengal. export, in Japan in the seventeenth century. 63 One of the many names of the fragrant 68 Presumably La Loubère’s cheyram, a gum resinous heartwood used as incense, also or varnish yielded by a tree. known as eagle-wood, agalloch, aquilaria, and 69 Phaulkon, Chao Phya Wichayen, holding aloes-wood. It was also one of Siam’s chief the position but not the title of phra khlang. exports at the time.

Journal of the Siam Society 90.1 & 2 (2002)

07 P125-135 135 8/8/05, 14:43