THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 123 



Naod, like a wife prince who had gained the confidence 

 of his army, would not carry with him any man who did 

 not, for that time, live in the fame free and full manner he 

 was ufed to do in feftivals. He himfclf fet the example ; 

 and Andreas the monk, after taking upon himfelf a vow of 

 a whole year's falling for the fuccefs of the army, declared 

 to them, that there was more merit in faving one Chriftian 

 village from flaverj^ and turning Mahometan, than in fall- 

 ing their whole lives. 



The king then marched againft Maffudi; and having 

 taken very ftrong ground, as if afraid of his army's weak- 

 nefs, the Moors, contrary to advice of their leader, attacked 

 the king's camp in the moll carelefs and prefumptuous 

 manner. They had no fooner entered, however, by ways 

 left open on purpofe for them, than they found the king's 

 army in order to receive them, and were fo rudely attack- 

 ed, that mofl of thofe who had penetrated into the camp 

 were left dead upon the fpot. The king continued the pur- 

 fuit with his troops, retook all the prifoners and cattle 

 which Maffudi was driving away, and advanced towards 

 the frontiers of Adel, where ambaffadors met him, hoping, 

 on the part of the king, that his intention was not to violate 

 the treaty of peace. 



To this the king anfwcred, That, fo far from it, he would 

 confirm the peace with them, but with this condition, that 

 they mull deliver up to him all the Abyffmians that were 

 to be found in their country taken by Maffudi in his laft 

 expedition, adding, that he would flay fifteen days there to 

 exped his anfwer. The king of Adcl, defirous of peace, and 



Qj> not 



