THE SOURCE OFTHENILE. 47 



Mahometans to a ftate of weaknefs that fhould make them, 

 'no longer formidable to Abyflinia, or, if profperous fortune 

 ilill attended them further, extirpate the people and religion 

 together. — This opinion prevailed. 



The king, therefore, difmiiTed his baggage, his women, 

 children, fervants, and ufelefs people. He retained an army 

 of veteran foldiers only, more formidable than fix times the 

 number that could be brought againft them ; and, trufting 

 now to the country into which he marched for fupport, 

 he advanced, and entered a town called Zeyla, and there 

 took up his quarters. He had fcarce taken poiTeflion of 

 the town, when that very night he fcnt a detachment to fur- 

 prife a large and rich village called Taraca, where lie put 

 all the men to the fword, making the women flaves for 

 the fervice of the army, inflead of thofe whom he had fent 

 home. 



The king's views, by fuch fmall expeditions, were to ac- 

 cuftom his foldiers to fight out of his prefence, and wean^ 

 them from a perfuafion, now become general, that victory 

 could not be obtained but where he commanded. 



On the loth of July, the king continued his march, with- 

 out oppofition, to Darbe, whence, the next morning, he fent 

 different parties to the right and kft, to burn and deftrov 

 the country. They accordingly laid walle all the province of 

 Gaffi, flaying Abdullah the Sherriffe, who was the governor 

 andfonofSaruchthelmam, author of the confpiracy againft 

 him. From thence he fell fuddenly upon Abalge and Tas- 

 lab, a large diftrift belonging to the king of Add. 



Thjs; 



