Unit 3 Rubber Today, about 70 % of

Unit 3



Rubber

Today, about 70 % of the agricultural plantations or about 29% of Phuket island are under rubber .

Rubber was first brought to Phuket from Malaysia in 1930. Since then rubber has dominated agricultural land and Phuket produces an estimated 14,000 tons of dry latex annually. Latex is the milky kinds of products from this latex.

Farmers grow about 150 rubber trees in an acre of land. It takes about seven years before the trees can be tapped. Workers will tap the trees in the early hours of the morning because the rubber latex flows easily when the weather gets cool. Wearing a torch light over their forehead, the workers make a small, slanting cut in the trunk of the tree with a hooked knife and hang a cup to collect the sticky white sap. After collecting the latex from the cup, they will make rubber sheets from it.

In making rubber sheets, dirt, bark, and other impurities are strained off. After that, it is poured into trays. Workers will add formic acid to the latex to quicken coagulation and leave it for about half an hour. Then, the latex is flattened and run through a milling machine. The machine will remove the water and then presses the rubber into sheets. These sheets of rubber are hung out of dry in the shade.



Unit 4



Brief History of Phuket From Junk Ceylon to Phuket

Phuket was first know as Junk Ceylon by ancient travelers. The earliest history of Phuket could be traced back as far as the early 3rd century A.D. According to historical records, Phuket was first mentioned in the geography book of Claudius of ancient Greece as a tiny peninsula called Junk Ceylon. It states that in the traveling down to the Malay peninsula called Junk Ceylon. It states that in traveling down to the Malay peninsula , one passes Cape Junk Ceylon. Therefore, many Historians

Believe that Phuket was once connected to the mainland and formed a small peninsula , and later the isthmus that joined Phuket and the mainland eroded away.

From the late 7th century to the 13th century ,Phuket became a part of the Srivijaya kingdom and was at that time known as Thalang. It is presumed that the name was a corrupt rom of the Malay word Ujang Silang.Ujang means a peninsula and Silang was the name of the native people, a tribe of Polynesians,living in this region long,long ago.

Thalang became part of Thailand in the late 13th century in the age of Sukothai.During the Ayutthaya period,Thalang became a town of importance when large deposits of tin ore were discovered on the island. Many foreigners began trading with Phuket during this time

It was during the reign of King Rama I of the Rattanakosin period that Thalang was invaded by the Burmese. However, the Burmese were defeated through the concerted efforts of the people of Thalang led by the two heroines, Thao Thepkrasatri and Thao Srisuntorn. After that,Thalang town went into declined while a new town of Phuket grew up to the south of Thalang and became more and more prosperous due to the development of tin mines. In the reign of King Rama IV Phuket town was elevated to take the place of Thalang and has been the provincial capital of Phuket since then.

It is generally agreed that the name Phuket came from the Malay word Bukit, meaning a mountain. It is so named because the island looks like a mountain rising from a sea when seen from afar.



Unit 5

Two Heroic Sisters

The monument of the two women standing side by side at Tha Rua intersection on Phuket island is dedicated to the two heroines of the province, Thao Thepkrasatri and Thao Srisuntorn who saved Thalang town from the Burmese invasion in 1785.

Thao Thepkrasatri(Chan) and Thao Srisuntron (muk) were sisters. Their father Chom Rang was the Governor of Thalang. Chan was born in 1735 and Muk a few year later. Chan was married to an official named Khan in 1762 who later became the Governor of Thalang in 1785 By that time,King Rama I had founded a new dynasty in Bangkok. Right after the death of the Governor, there was alarming news that a large number of Burmese troops were invading the southern part of Thailand

Just to the north Of Thalang . At that time, the town was without a governor, so, Chan and Muk took the responsibility of defending area at Pranangsang Temple. Because there were few young men on the island, the heroines orderedmiddle aged women to disguise themselves as male soldiers. The sisters were able to organize such a successful defense because of their courage and wise leadership. The Burmese were defeated on March 13,1785.

King Rama I bestowed noble titles upon Chan,Thao Thepkrasatri and upon Muk,Thao Srisuntorn. Ann their names have since been recorded in history among the few heroines of this country.