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

REVIEW ARTICLES 215
contained in Ying- Yai-Sheng-Lan or "The Overall Survey of the Ocean's
Shores", 1433. (Note: Ma Buan was the Muslim interpreter to the
famous Cheng Ho, pre-eminent among the eunuchs of the Court of the
Ming Emperor Cheng-tsu (Yung-lo). The Emperor appointed him
~
principal envoy and commander-in-chief of six great expeditions to the
'Western Ocean', 1405-149l.) Black also identified some names on the
map, as well as giving the latitudes.
Toponyms Latitudes Identifications
Chia-lo-bsi 10'99' N. Krbi (Krburi)
Liu-k'un 8'27' N. Nakorn
Fo-lo-an 7'33' N. Phattalung
Sun-ku-na 7'11' N. Songkhla (Singora)
Lang-hsi-chia 6'54' N. Pattani (Lakawn Suka)
Cbi-t'o 6'00' N. Kedah
Chan-pei 1"35' S. Djambi
Chiu-cbieng 3'00' s. Palembang (Old Harbour)
Cbia-lo-hsi was Kraburi. If Cban-pei and Kien-pi were the same,
then it was Djambi in Sumatra; if not, then Cban-pei was Djambi and
Kien-pi was Krabi. Palembang appears in Cbau-ju-kua as Pa-lin-fong.
Before leaving the Naksat Cities, let us look for another lost site.
Mueng Pahang was the southernmost of the Naksat Cities (Year of the
Rabbit). Pahang was a town or city and not a state as it is today. Some
years ago I was told that Mueng Pahang was under water. As there are
several traditions of cities flooded out of existence-in the lake at Payao
in the North, in the Nong Harn in the Northeast-! did not follow the
subject further. In any case the Naksat Cities were supposed to have
formed a shield around the capitals (Chaiya, Nakorn and Singora, which
were not Naksat Cities themselves), and in case of attack on any city,
help could be sent from the other cities. So I thought Pahang should be
looked for near the Panarican Pass. But it now seems I am wrong. The
Cambridge expedition in 1962 already mentioned, got to a mount, a lake
and a feeder stream of the Pahang River, all called Cheni. I will again
quote at length from Stewart Wavell's book, The Naga King's Daughter: