Ancient Indian Colonization in South-East Asia c7.11

c7.11

The central region, lying between Siam and Annam or Champā, is to-day covered by three countries known as Laos, Cambodia and Cochin-China. In the ancient times they formed a political unit known as Kambuja-deśa from which the modern name Cambodia is derived. Through this entire region flows the mighty river Mekong, first along the eastern border of Burma and Siam, and the western border of the hilly country of Laos, and then passing over the Dangrek range enters the plain of Cambodia proper near Khong. From this point the river is enlarged to nearly double its breadth and covers almost the whole of Cambodia by its ramifications. Indeed this majestic river played the same part in Kambuja as the Gaṅgā in Northern India and the Nile in Egypt. A wide sheet of water connects this river to the vast lake called Tonle Sap, the border of which, known as Angkor region, formed the centre of Kambuja history and culture. From this point of junction, near the modern capital city of Pnom Penh, the Mekong branches off into two wide streams, connected by numerous cross canals till they both fall into the sea forming the rich delta of Cochin-China.