Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champa; Vol. II: Suvarnadvipa) v2.c13.459

v2.c13.459

When these colonists wanted to expand beyond the somewhat narrow quarters of the west coast valleys, they followed the two courses open to them. Some braved the waters of the Straits of Malacca, then swarming with Malay pirates, but others, perhaps the majority, followed the comparatively safe route across country peopled by milder natives, to the eastern coast of the peninsula. For it is only at this latitude that two rivers run approximately east and west respectively from the watershed, being separated at their sources by only five miles.