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

236 REVIEW ARTICLE
he continued beyond the vV period right up to the destruction of
Ayuttbaya in 1767 and the ensuing disintegration of the kingdom.
Besides its own unique chronology, which is found in vV, both Sand Sc
contain a number of inserted dates, probably from the band of Somdet
Phra Phonnarat, and which agree with the tradition of LP, not
rediscovered by later historians until the 20th century. The third
chronology he used is that of 1157, one version of which be prepared.
Certain questions thus come to mind. Did he favor any one version as
being most accurate? Was he concerned only with preserving all old
traditions? Did such considerations trouble him at all?
At least we now know that what had hitherto appeared as his own,
chronologically peculiar, composition was a much older history which
be preserved and prolonged. One can certainly agree with Wyatt
(p.lO) on the importance of the publication of van Vliet's version of
this older history, but its importance, I feel, lies in its evidence for
the analysis of Ayutthayan historiography rather than for any startling
contribution to our knowledge of the facts of early Ayutthayan history.
School of Humanities
Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Penang.
Michael Vickery