THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. i6i 



The emprefs Helena died in 1525, the year before the 

 Portuguefe embaffy ended, after having brought about aft 

 interview between the two nations, which, by the continual 

 difavowal of Matthew's embafly, it is plain that David knew 

 not how to turn to his advantage. Soon after her death, 

 the king prepared to renew the war with the Moors, with- 

 out having received the lead advantage from the Portuguefe. 

 But very differently had the people of Adel employed this 

 interval of peace. They had llrengthened themlelves by 

 the ftri(5teft friendfhip with the Turkifh officers in Arabia, 

 efpecially with the baflia of Zibit, a large trading port near- 

 ly oppofite to Mafuah. A Turkifli garrifon was put into 

 Zeyla; and a Turk, with a large train of artillery, command- 

 ed in it. All was ready againfl the firft invafion the king 

 was to make, and he was now marching directly towards 

 their country. 



The firft retaliation, for the Portuguefe friendfliip, (as we 

 have already obferved) had been the cutting off the caravan 

 for Jerufalem. In revenge for this, the king had marched 

 into Dawaro, and fent a body of troops from that province 

 to fee what was the ftate of the Moorifli forces in Add. 

 Thefe were no fooncr arrived on the frontiers of that king- 

 dom, than they were met by a number of the enemy appoint- 

 ed to guard thofe confines, and, coming to blows, the Abyf- 

 fmians defeated, and drove them into the dcfcrt parts of their 

 own country. The king ftill advanced till he met the Ma- 

 liometan army, and a battle was fought at Shimbra Cord, 

 where the Abyffinian army was totally defeated ; the Bct- 

 wudet, Hadug Ras, the governor of Amhara, Robcl, gover- 

 nor of the mountain of Geflien, with the girueft part of 

 the nobility, and four thoufand men, were all flain. 

 Voi„ II» X Maho- 



