A Reissue Of A Century Old Book On The History Of The Central Provinces

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Absorbing insight into ancient times

A reissue of "Samut Ratchaburi", first published nearly a century ago, will give a glimpse of how Ratchaburi and five other provinces of the Ratchaburi Circle (Monthon Ratchaburi) were at the time.

Monthon Ratchaburi included the provinces of Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuab Khiri Khan, Kanchanaburi and Samut Songkhram.

The Ratchaburi Circle at the time had a population of about 500,000.

The book gives details on geography and ethnography, as well as legends and the way of life in the provinces during the reign of King Vajiravudh (King Rama VI).

Chanwangtho Phraya Khatha-Tharabodi, the then governor of Monthon Ratchaburi wrote in the first issue, published in 1926, that the book was prepared for the Siamese Kingdom Exhibition and to celebrate the 15th anniversary of King Vajiravudh's coronation.

The Siamese Kingdom Exhibition was planned for January 23, 1926 at Lumpini Park but was cancelled because the monarch passed away a few months before.

A manuscript on Samut Ratchaburi, however, had been almost completed for print. Phraya Khatha-Tharabodi decided to continue the printing and launched the book to commemorate the late King Vajiravudh's birthday on January 1, 1926.

Unfortunately, the book was rarely seen by the public.

A copy kept in the Prince Damrong Rajanubhab Library had a handwritten message on the front page that read "Phraya Katha-Tharabodi brought [this book] to give [to ...] at Hua Hin Hotel on 27 January 1925."

"I had heard about Samut Ratchaburi for over 30 years but had never found it in the libraries of Chulalongkorn University or other libraries," said associate professor Chalong Soontravanich, head of the Department of History at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Arts.

The historian recently obtained a copy of the first print of Samut Ratchaburi from a rare book collector, Thongchai Likitpornswan, who bought the copy 15 years ago at a rare books shop at Chatuchak Market.

Chalong, president of the Thai Club of Japan's Selection Committee on the Reprinting of Rare Books project, was quick to add the book to the list.

"I was interested in the local history in this book. It is important for historical studies of Thailand. In the past, our history relied on royal chronicles rather than local sources. The book also reflects the way of thinking of Thai rulers," he said.

"Samut Ratchaburi's" contents include: the legends of towns and administrations; occupations and important products of the Ratchaburi Circle; places to go and see for holidays; wars; miscellaneous stories told about the royal palaces the former kings of Siam built and visited in the provinces; a language of the "Krieng", an ethnic group living in the mountains along the Siam-Burma border; and wildlife and hunting.

The Krieng were described as a "special ethnic group" in the book's chapter on "Nation and Populations". About 100 members of the Krieng came from Baan Mekawa in Moulmein, Burma to settle in Huay Chonkalia in Kanchanaburi province. A Krieng leader was later appointed chief of Sangkhla Buri town.

"It can be said that their origin was ethnic-Thai (Laos owned the former land). But there were foreigners such as Khom [Khmer] and Khaek [people from South Asia] who came in and mixed [were married] with the locals," the Krieng chapter reads.

Monthon Ratchaburi was also home to Mon from Tavoy and Lao-Song and Lao-Vieng captives from Srisatanakonahut, now Luang Prabang.

Images of these people and their way of life were also published in the book, as well as photos of archaeological sites and popular tourist attractions at the time.

"Samut Ratchaburi isn't just a record of the period, it is also a body of knowledge for Thai historical studies, especially economic history, the history of tourism, and ethnography," said Chalong, who is editor of the "Samut Ratchaburi" reprint to be published by the Thai Club of Japan.

Samut Ratchaburi is the sixth rare book published in the Reprint of Rare Books Project. It contains 325 pages and 52 photos.

The reissue of "Samut Ratchaburi" is available from Original Press. Call 02 952 9203 for details.

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas

The Nation