THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 139 



valley, whilft Betwudet and his party had advanced confidep- 

 ably, and made much the fame difpofition. 



The king drew up his troops early in the morning, and 

 offered the enemy battle, when the whole Abyffinian army 

 was furprifed to difcover a backwardnefs in the Moors fo 

 unlike their behaviour at former times ; well they might, 

 when they were informed from whom that panic among 

 the Moors came, MafTudi, a fanatic from the beginning, 

 whether really deceived by fuch a prophecy, or raifed to a 

 pitch of pride and enthufiafm by the honours he had re- 

 ceived, and defirous, by a remarkable death, to dcfervc the 

 rank of martyr among thofe of his own religion, or from 

 whatever caufe it arofe, came to the king of Adel, and told 

 liim, that his time was now come ; that it had been pro- 

 phefied to him long ago, that if, that year, he fought the 

 king of Abyllinia in pcrfon, he was there to lofe his life: 

 That he knew, for certain, David was then prcfent, having, 

 with his own eyes, fecn the fcarlct tent, (a colour which is 

 only ufed by the king) ; he dcfired, therefore, the king of 

 Adcl to make the bcft of his way through a lefs flecp part 

 of the mountain, which he fhcwed him ; to take his family 

 and favourites along with him, and leave under his com- 

 mand the army to try their fortune with David. Maho- 

 met, at no time very fond of fighting, never found himfelf 

 lefs fo than upon this advice of Maffudi's. He refolved, 

 therefore, to follow his council ; and, before the battle be- 

 gan, withdrew himfelf through the place that was fliewii 

 him, and was followed by a few of his friends. 



It was now 9 o'clock, and the fun began to be hot, be- 

 fore which the Abyliinians never choofe to engage, wiicn 



S 2, Mafludi, 



