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

238 REVIEW AHTICLES
Half a century later Ayudhia followed Ayodhia or Sukhothai as the case
may be.
But the main point is that the Thai came from the mountains.
Whatever distance a landlubber may walk, he can only walk as far as
'Land's End'. He cannot walk across water to Sumatra, or, for that
matter, even to Singapore. Jn this way Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula
became politically separated. Tbe Sumatran vacuum was filled by the
Javanese. They were seafarers, and while they could land in some parts of
Sumatra, they were unable to find a firm footing on the Peninsula before
the Tbai drove them into the sea again. Such is the background to the
story. It is not altogether precise but it is adequate for understanding
the evidence that follows.
1268 A.D. Krtanagara became King of Singhasari in East Java.
127 5 A.D. Javanese sources state that Java invaded Malayu (Muara
Takus in Central Sumatra.) Some scholars, however, think that this
expedition, called the Parnalayu, was made in 1292, the year King Krtanagara
died.
1282 A.D. Malayu sent an embassy to China led by two Muslims
named Sulaiman and Shamsuddin.
·1286 A.D. (a) An inscription on the base of an image of Amoghapasa­
Lokesvara, found in the district of Rambahan in the Muara Takus area
in Central Sumatra, tells us that it was brought from Bhumi Java to
Suvarnabhumi by four high officials at the command of Maharajadhiraja
Sri Krtanagara Vikrama Dharmottungadeva (King Krtanagara ofSinghasari
in East Java). The image was set up at Dharmasraya for the
subject people of Malayu to adore. The local king was called Srirnat
Tribuvanaraja Mauli Varmadeva. (See also under 1347.)
(b) Sa-mu-ta-la (Samudra) sent an embassy. This toponym
is thought to have referred to Sumatra, but this is by no means certain.
1292 A D. (a) Marco Polo returned home by the sea route. On his
way from China, be passed through Southeast Asia. Of the places
mentioned, Pentan, 500 miles south of Locac on the mainland, was