the Shan States of Burma to the west.1 This region is made up of Thai speaking peoples who came down from the old kingdom of Nanchao in what is now Yunnan. Before that they appear to have been inhabitants of Szechwan. Dodd, for instance, presents some linguistic evidence for this.2 But Credner holds a different view and thinks that they came into the Tall region of Yunnan from the east.3 The present distribution of Thai speaking peoples in Szechwan, Yunnan, and Kwangsi makes both theories plausible. Whichever may prove to be correct, the present Thai people of Indochina appear to have come into the southern area from Yunnan, spreading out into Thailand, northern Burma (Shan), and the upper valleys of Tonkin (Lao, Thai, and Tho). Both Dodd and Credner emphasize the fact that the Thai have always been wet rice cultivators and settlers in valleys and plains suitable for this type of economy. The basis of Credner's theory that they came to Yunnan from the east is his view that the Thai are not only valley dwellers but tropical paddy cultivating valley dwellers. Thus the Thai are quite distinct historically and culturally from the mountain peoples of North Indochina such as the Yao, Meo, Lolo, and Wa. All students of Thai history are agreed on the northern origin of the present Thai people. They are also agreed on the historic influences of Hindu culture in the area as reflected in the themes from the Ramayana in drama and literature, the form of dress (panung), and the Indian court terminology.4 Another important Indian influence which seems to have come to the Thai via Burma when they were still in the North was Mahayana Buddhism and some Brahmanistic practices; later, about the sixth century, A.D., the Hinayana form of Buddhism became predominant.A Thai culture is markedly different from that of Vietnam (Annam), a region with long historic contact with China and under actual Chinese rule