When these fireworks are finished,there enter many triumphal cars which belong to the captains,some of them sent by those captains who are waging war in foreign parts;and they enter thus.The first belongs to Salvatinica,and they come in one after the other.Some of the cars appear covered with many rich cloths,having on them many devices of dancing-girls and other human figures;there are other cars having tiers one on top of another,and others all of one kind;and so in their order they pass to where the king is.When the cars have gone out they are immediately followed by many horses covered with trappings and cloths of very fine stuff of the king's colours,and with many roses and flowers on their heads and necks,and with their bridles all gilded;and in front of these horses goes a horse with two state-umbrellas of the king,and with grander decorations than the others,and one of the lesser equerries leads it by the bridle.In front of this horse goes another caracoling and prancing,as do all horses here,being trained in that art.You must know that this horse that is conducted with all this state is a horse that the king keeps,on which they are sworn and received as kings,and on it must be sworn all those that shall come after them;and in case such a horse dies they put another in its place.If any king does not wish to be sworn on horseback,they swear him on an elephant,which they keep and treat with equal dignity.
These horses,then,going in the way I have stated,pass twice round the arena and place themselves in the middle of the arena in five or six lines,one before the other,and the king's horse in front of them,all facing the king;they stand in such a way that between them and the men there is an open space all round.As soon as they are arranged in this way and are all quiet there goes out from the inside of the palace a Brahman,the highest in rank of those about the king,and two others with him,and this chief Brahman carries in his hands a bowl with a cocoanut and some rice and flowers,while others carry a pot of water;and they pass round by the back of the horses,which all stand facing the king;and after performing his ceremonies there,he returns to the palace.