Page 132 - The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand Vol.XIII-2021

The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand
Volume XIII – 2021

Introduction

Rivers and canals have been a major mode of transport for the locals living
in the Central Plains and other regions; as a result, early rural agricultural
communities and urban communities flourished along the rivers and canals. Such

communities are densely located at the mouth of rivers and major canals where
tributaries meet. According to the two editions (Ayutthaya and Thonburi) of

Buddhist scriptures, Tripitaka, there were maps showing communities around the
Gulf of Thailand such as Pran, Petchaburi, Ratchaburi, Mae Klong, Sathon, Bang Hia
(Bang Bo), Bang Chang or Amphawa and so on (Srisakra, 2002). Bang Chang used

to be a customs outpost collecting taxes from boats traveling from the Gulf of
Thailand upstream to Ayutthaya during the reign of King Prasat Thong as mentioned

in the Description of the Kingdom of Siam (Sang, 1993). Tanabe (1977) stated that
during the Ayutthaya Period, there were a lot of trading communities in the Central
Plains at the mouth of rivers and canals.

In the part, waterways had been used as basic needs for living and transport,
consequently old communities gathered along rivers and canals. The fall of
Ayutthaya in 1767 forced its residents to flee the city to the lower Central Plains

and settled down there including the areas along the Mae Klong River. During the
reign of King Rama II, the Mon from Sangkhla Buri came to the Mae Klong Basin,
looking for a more fertile area for cultivation. Later, during the reign of King Rama

III, the Lao and the Khmer came to live there. During that time, Siam engaged in
free trades with many countries such as China and Western countries (England,
France and Holland). Meanwhile, Sunak Hon Canal was dug westward to link the

Chao Phraya River with the Tha Chin River and the Mae Klong River; consequently,
forest areas were transformed into residential areas. Most of the settlers along the

waterfront areas were farmers and more settlements were found there. During
the reign of King Rama IV, Damnoen Saduak Canal was dug to facilitate the water
transport between the Tha Chin River and the Mae Klong River. During the reign of

King Rama V, an influx of the Chinese to the Mae Klong area coupled with the
exemption of tax collection on rice grown in the first year of land clearance and the

122 Urban Settlements, Religion and Spirit of Places along the Mae Klong River, Thailand