THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 17^ 



him before he was in a fituation to defend himfelf, and 

 by one flroke to put an end to the war. They accordingly 

 fet about colledling troops from all quarters, but with a. 

 degree of inattention and prefumption that fufficiently 

 fliewed they thought themfelves in no danger. But the 

 young king having good intelligence that vizir Afa, Oiman, 

 Debra Yafous, and Joram, (who had fo nearly taken his fa- 

 ther prifoner in the mountain Tfalem) had their quarters 

 near him, and negle<5led a good look-out, fell upon them,, 

 without their knowing what his force was, entirely defeat- 

 ed them, difpcrfed their army, and ftruck a panic into the 

 whole confederacy by the manner this victory was follow- 

 ed up ; the king himfelf on horfeback continued the pur- 

 fuit all that day and night, as alfo the next day, and did 

 not return to his camp till the fecond evening after his 

 vidory, having flain without mercy every one that had 

 fallen into his hands, either in the flight, or in the field of 

 battle. 



Claudius's behaviour, on this fii-ft occafion, raifcd the 

 foldicrs confidence to a degree of cnthuliafm. Every man 

 that had fervcd under his father repaired to him with the 

 greateft alacrity. Above all, the Agows of Lalla came down 

 to him in great troops from their rugged and inacceihblc 

 mountains, the chief of that warlike nation being related 

 to him by his mother. 



The king in pcrfon at the head of his army became now 

 an objeifl of fuch confideration as to make the Mahometan 

 chiefs no longer retire as ufual to winter in Adel, but canton 

 themfelves in the feveral diftridts they had conquered in 

 Myfliuia, and lay afide the thoughts of farther wailing the 



country. 



