Ancient Indian Colonization in South-East Asia c10.78

c10.78

The luxury and wealth of the other colonies is also referred to in the Chinese texts. The following account of Po-li is preserved in the *History of the Liang Dynasty*: "The king's family name is Kauṇḍinya. He uses a texture of flowered silk wrapped round his body; on his head he wears a golden bonnet of more than a span high and adorned with various precious stones. He carries a sword inlaid with gold, and sits on a golden throne, with his feet on a silver footstool. His female attendants are adorned with golden flowers and all kinds of jewels, some of them holding *chowries* of white feathers or fans of peacock feathers. When the king goes out, his carriage, which is made of different kinds of fragrant wood, is drawn by an elephant. On the top of it is a flat canopy of feathers, and has embroidered curtains on both sides. People blowing conches and beating drums precede and follow him."