The Colas c25.23

c25.23

A Chinese author, writing in 1178, gives the following account of the Cōḻa country and its army:⁴⁹ 'This country is at war with the kingdoms of the West (of India?). The government owns sixty thousand war-elephants, every one seven or eight feet (cubits?) high. When fighting, these elephants carry on their backs houses, and these houses are full of soldiers who shoot arrows at long range, and fight with spears at close quarters. When victorious, the elephants are granted honorary names to signalize their merit, and there are some who bestow upon them embroidered housings and golden mangers. Every day the elephants are taken into the presence of the king.’