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The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXIV, Part 1-2, 1976 - Khamkoo

The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXIV, Part 1-2, 1976 - Khamkoo

The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXIV, Part 1-2, 1976 - Khamkoo

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310 REVIEW ARTICLE<br />

(some <strong>of</strong> which were without Cheng Ho) and got as far as Arabia.<br />

Cheng Ho's perigrinations in Sou<strong>the</strong>ast Asia and Arabia need not be<br />

recounted, and only his exploits in Ceylon mentioned.<br />

On Cheng Ho's first trip between 1405 and 1407, he landed in<br />

Ceylon. <strong>The</strong> local king, Vira Alakesvara, was hostile, so Cheng Ho<br />

withdrew. On his second trip be again landed in 1411. <strong>The</strong> king was<br />

even more hostile, so Cheng Ho broke into his palace, captured <strong>the</strong> king<br />

and took him back to China. <strong>The</strong> Emperor ordered <strong>the</strong> Ceylonese<br />

present at his court to choose <strong>the</strong> most worthy member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir tribe to<br />

become king. <strong>The</strong> choice fell on Yeh-pa-nai-na, which Pranavitana<br />

takes to be Apana meaning Prince. Cheng Ho again set sail and put <strong>the</strong><br />

prince on <strong>the</strong> throne as Pu-la-ko-ma-pa-su-la-cha (Parakramabahuraja or<br />

Parakrarnabahu VI.). <strong>The</strong> year was 1414, which differs from <strong>the</strong> History<br />

<strong>of</strong> Ceylon by a few years.<br />

<strong>The</strong> whole story has been well recorded in both <strong>the</strong> Chinese and<br />

Simhalese sources, but somehow <strong>the</strong> two do not fit as well as <strong>the</strong>y might.<br />

For instance, ·parakramabahu, to judge by his name, was <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> line that<br />

ruled at Gampala, while Vira Alakesvara was <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> line that ruled at<br />

Rayigama. <strong>The</strong> two factions were deadly enemies. Parakramabahu<br />

would ra<strong>the</strong>r have been seen dead than show his face in Rayigama, or<br />

ra<strong>the</strong>r, if be had shown his face in Rayigama, he would have been dead.<br />

So be could not have been captured at <strong>the</strong> same time as Vira Alakesvara<br />

and taken to China, as some have conjectured.<br />

But once again Parana vitana, from his wondrous source <strong>of</strong> interlinear<br />

writing (Princess Ulakudaya's Wedding, page 134), has supplied a<br />

connecting story that cements <strong>the</strong> two sources so well that <strong>the</strong> whole<br />

story becomes more logical than <strong>the</strong> two component parts on <strong>the</strong>ir own<br />

viz. Cheng Ho picked up Parakramabahu from <strong>the</strong> Malay Peninsula,<br />

took him to Ceylon and put him on <strong>the</strong> throne.<br />

"Hail! <strong>The</strong> great king Parakramabahu, having been at<br />

Suvarnnapura, was established in <strong>the</strong> sovereignty <strong>of</strong> Lanka by <strong>the</strong><br />

Emperor <strong>of</strong> China, and arrived in Ceylon toge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong> Imperial<br />

Chinese convoy. He waged war with Parakramababu Adipada

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