San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-07-09
AN ANCIENT CIVILIZATION.
Ruins In Cambodia Show that the Khmers
Were Able People.

Ruins In Cambodia Show that the Khmers
Were Able People.
Ruined temples of great size have
been discovered by French investiga-
tors in Cambodia, just north of Siam.
An extinct race, bearing the singular
name of Khmers, inhabited an immense
territory now forming part of Cambo-
dia and covered by forests. Temples
and other large monuments now lie
hidden by vegetation, and it will prob
ably be years before the extent of them
can be ascertained.
The arrangement of these buildings
and the originality of the carving and
ornamentation are declared to be very
astonishing. They evidence some
what advanced civilization, but the
period at which it prevailed can not be
fixed with any certainty.
There is, however, document in the
treasury of King Norodom of Cambodia
which throws some light on the sub
ject. 1t is the royal chronicle or
prongsa-voda, consisting of two parts.
The first is compiled largely from fab
ulous narrative, and purports to give
history of all the events that have
happened in Cambodia since the be-
ginning down, to the year 1910. The
second covers the period from 1910 to
the present day.
NM. j. Meura and Aymonier have
obtained from King Norodom an au-
thorization to translate the pongsa-
voda. From their work, as far as it
has proceeded, it is learned that the
early history of Cambodia is divided
into three principal epochs. The first
inhabitants were savage people called
Samres. They were subjugated by
the Khams, people from the kingdom
of Khomerat, on the Chinese frontier,
in the year 500 B. c. The Khams es-
tablished a prosperous state called
Kutch-Khloc, but they remained prim-
tive.
In 443 B. c. Prea-Thong, a Hindoo
prince, son of the king of Indraprastha,
having revolted against his father, was
forced to emigrate with many fellow
citizens to southern Indo-China. He
established himself in Hutch .Thloc,
bringing with him ideas of progress
and men of artistic ability. He and
his people quarreled with their hosts,
the Khams, and overcame them, driv-
ing many of them to Laos, province
of the interior.
Prea-Thong married the daughter of
Khan chief and was proclaimed king
under the pleasing name of Prea-bat-
Twon-as-Char. He called his kingdom
Crung- Campuchea, kingdom coming
out of the waters. The people acquired
the name of Khmers.
Under Prea-Thong and his Hindoos
arts and manufactures fourished.
Fortresses, palaces and temples were
built on the fertile land abandoned by
the sea.
The sketches of some of these build
ings recently discovered show that
they are large and magnificent in a
grotesque way. Among the ruins are
those of what is believed to be the
royal fortress of Angkor-Thom, built
by Prea-Thong
Angkor-Thom was in reality forti-
fed city, of which the extent can be
roughly traced. 1t measures about
nine miles in circumference. The en-
trance is surmounted by colossal head
of Brahma. On the walls are the re-
mains of frieze composed of the fig
ures of gods, the bodies rising from
lotos flowers.
Among other decorations is. a huge
three-headed elephant, representing
Alrawaddi, the favorite mount of silva.
IN. Y. World.