The innovatory aspects of European technogy in Southeast Asia were most clearly demonstrated in relation to firearms, although it was not until the seventeenth century that Europe's leadership in this area was apparent. ) Rulers in the region, who had previously looked to India, China or Turkey for the latest weaponry, were now anxious to acquire mercenaries and technicians from Europe. Fueling the desire to obtain knowledge of the most modern techniques for manufacturing cannon, muskets and gunpowder was the continuing warfare between local kingdoms. Mastery of these new weapons, It was believed, would be a deciding factor in a ruler's victory over his enemies. Historians have pointed out that weapontry was not always transferable from Europe to Southeast Asia, and acquisition of European arms did not basically alter the way warfare was conducted, nor change cultural attitudes which attributed certain weapons with their own personality and spiritual power. But long-standing knowledge of metal casting made Southeast Asias able student, and King Narai of Ayudhya was still sufficiently confident to send two Siamese-made guns as gifts to Louis XIV. Parisians used them a hundred years later in the storming of the Bastille. ) Nonetheless, althouth Southeast Asias were able to manufacture thier own weapons which were particularly suited to lacal needs, ) they were sufficiently pragmatic to accept the superiority of European guns, cannon and armmunition on the battlefield. Southeast Asias themselves, in fact, rarely challenged Euro-