THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. zi 



orders to lay the whole country wafte, and by all means 

 provoke Saber-eddin to rifk a battle, either before or after 

 the junaion of the troops which were to march thither 

 from Hadea. But when the king was thus bufy with the 

 Moors, news were brought him that the Fal'aiha. had rebcl- 

 kd, and were in arms, in very great numbers. The king 

 ordered Tzaga Chriftos, governor of Begemder, to aflemble his 

 troops with thofe of Gondar, Sacalta, and Damot, and march 

 againft thefe rebels before they had time to ruin the country;. 

 «nd having thus made provifion againft all his enemies, Amda 

 Sion proceeded with the remainder of his ai-my to Dawaro. 



Hydar was governor in this province for the king, who, 

 though he fhe\ved outwardly every appearance of duty and 

 fidelity, was, notwithftanding, deep in the confpiracy with 

 Saber-eddin, and had clofe correfpondcnce with the king of 

 Adel, whofe capital, Aufla, was not at a great diftance from 

 him. 



The king kept his Eafter at Gaza, immediately upon the 

 verge of the defert; and, being willing to accuftom his troops 

 to adion and hardlhip, he left his tents and baggage behind 

 with the army ; and, fecretly taking with him but twenty-fix 

 horfemen, he made an incurfion upon Samhar, deftroying all 

 before him, and flaying all night, tho' he had no provifions,in 

 the middle of his enemies, without fo much as lying down to- 

 fleep, flacking his belt, or taking ofl" any part of his armour. 



The king was no fooner gone than the army milTed him,, 

 and was all in the greateft uproar. But, having flniflied 

 liis expedition, he joined them in the morning, and en- 

 camped; 



