Page 87 - A History of Siam

A DISTORT OF SUM 85

Another very important measure which Siam owes
to King Trailok may conveniently be mentioned here,
though not brought into force until 1454. This was the
law Sakdi Na As mentioned in
regulating grade.
chapter i,, the Tai, even in the most ancient times,
possessed a system whereby every man was allowed
to hold a certain amount of land, regulated in accordance
with his Trailok laid down definite
position. King
rules on this and
subject. Every Prince, official, private
person, had a certain amount of land allotted to him.
For the Chao as or
instance, P'y > P'yas holding important
were allowed to hold from to acres.
posts, 1,000 4,000
Subordinate officials, such as K'uns and Luangs, held
from 1 60 acres upwards. Common people held 10 acres.
This system not only definitely fixed the relative rank
of man in the but
every Kingdom, it actually placed
" "
a value upon him. He was literally worth so and
so much. If he had to be fined for the
any offence,
fine was to his Sakdi Na, and if com-
graded according
had to be for his death or for
pensation paid any injury,
this was likewise on the same scale.
computed
So far as officials are concerned, the Sakdi Na repre-
sented their were to live on the
pay. They expected
produce of their land, and therefore received no salaries.
Since the time of all officials
King Chulalongkorn,
have been salaries in cash and are
paid not, therefore,
land. still receive a nominal
given any Nevertheless, they
rank based on an assumed of land. The
grant system
of Trailok thus survives to the in
King present day,
theory if not in practice.
King Trailok was also responsible for another remark-
able of the Palace Law 1
piece legislation, namely (Kot
1
It is that this law is really a compilation of regulations dating
probable
from much more ancient times. In its original form, it was divided into three
parts : (a) Ceremonies ; (b) Functions of officials ; (c) Punishments.