Everything Everywhere Daily · Thursday, September 10, 2026
The immense wealth generated by Srivijaya's control over trade is evidenced by foreign accounts, including that of 10th-century Arab chronicler Al-Serafi. Al-Serafi described the Srivijayan Maharaja's daily ritual of throwing a gold ingot into the water, symbolizing the empire's vast riches and its mastery over regional commerce.
“A 10th-century Arab chronicler named Al-Serafi noted, quote, "The town in which the Maharaja resides faces an estuary, which is like a great river. Across it lies the ocean, and the tide rises and falls. The palace of the king stands by the bank of this water, extending from it is an arm into which the tide enters at the flood and retreats at the ebb. The king has a storehouse there, and it is the practice of his treasurer, every day, to bring an ingot of gold, shaped like a brick, of a weight which is known, and throw it into the water in the presence of the king. When the water has risen, the ingot is covered. And when it ebbs, the gold appears glistening in the sun, while the king sits in his reception hall overlooking the estuary." He does this every day without fail, quote.”