Entry

The chief envoy Kun Tie-mi-di-li, the deputy envoy and others who had been sent by the king of the country of Siam, came to offer tribute. On their departure, brocaded silks and other goods were conferred upon the king of their country and his consort. A banquet as well as clothing, variegated silks and other goods, as appropriate were conferred upon Tie-mi-di-li and the others. The tally-slip they handed in was the No. 83 tally-slip of the Cheng-hua reign, while the despatch to the Ministry of Rites was signed by Pu-ba-la-zhi-cha, an official of the Palace Service Department (內事部). The Ministry of Rites said: "The correspondence between this Ministry and the king of the country of Siam is always carried out by direct despatches between us. There has never been a case where an attendant minister has dared to arrogate to himself the right to send despatches to this Ministry. We should now send a despatch to the king of the country of Siam, noting that in future the sending of despatches must follow the old regulations, and that despatches must bear the seal of the country and be personally signed by the king, as only such despatches will be received. They are not again to permit the Palace Service officials to exceed their functions and assume the right to sign despatches, as otherwise, punishment will be invoked." This was approved.