THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. ty 



being known to the Moors that this was the king, they 

 withdrew their army with all poflible fpeed, carrying with 

 them a very confiderable booty. 



The fuccefs which had followed thefe night expeditions, 

 above all, the fmall lofs that had attended the purfuit, even 

 after they were defeated, from the perfedl knowledge they 

 had of the country, infpired them with a refolution to avoid 

 pitched battles, but to diflrefs and harrafs the king's army 

 every night. They accordingly brought their camp nearer 

 than ufual to the king's quarters. This began to be felt by 

 the army, which was prevented from foraging at a great dif- 

 tancc; but provifions could not be difpenfcd with. The king, 

 therefore, detached a large body of horfc and foot that had 

 not been engaged or fatigued. The greateft part of the foot 

 lie ordered to return with the cattle they fliould have taken, 

 but the horfe, with each a foot-foldier behind him, he dirccft- 

 cd to take poll in a wood near a pool of water, where the Moor- 

 ifli troops, after an alTault in tli£ night, retired, and took re- 

 frefliments and fleep by the time tlic fun began to be hot. 

 The Moors again appeared in the night, attacked the camp in 

 feveral places, and alarmed the whole army ; but, by the 

 bravery and vigour of the king, who every where animated 

 his troops by his own exaniple, they were obliged to retreat 

 a little before morning, more fatigued, and more roughly 

 handled, than they had hitherto been in any fuch expedition. 



The king, as if equally tired, followed them no further 

 than the precincfls of his camp ; and the Moors, fcarcely com- 

 forted by this forbearance after fo great a lofs, retreated to re- 

 ceive fuccour of frelh troops as ufual, and enjoy their repofe in 

 the neighbourhood of fliade and water. They had, how- 



D a ever- 



