his return journey while crossing the
Gulf of Martaban, which happened to be
at low tide, he saw two golden sheldrakes sitting, female on top of male, on a
peak of land protruding out of the sea just enough for a bird's perch. Viewing
this strange phenomenon, he predicted to his disciples that one day a country
where his doctrine would thrive would come into existence in this vast sea
area. That part of the sea, when it was silted up and ready for habitation
approximately 1500 years after the prediction, was colonized by Mons from the
Thaton Kingdom. Thus, the Mons became
the first rulers of this country known in history as
Hongsawatoi from
Pali
Hamsavati).
Other spelling variations on the name include
Hanthawaddy,
Hanthawady,
Hanthawadi and
Handawaddy. In Thai, it is called
Hongsawadi.
The earliest mention
of this city in history is by the Arab
