•1:76 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



country, to defend themfelves againft fo adive and fpiriteQ 

 •ail aflailant. They agreed then to jom their whole forces 

 together, and march to force the king to a battle. Ofman 

 of Ganze, vizir Mudgid who had fettled in Amhara, Saber- 

 eddin*, and all the lelTer rebel officers of Sire and Sera we, 

 cfFed:ed a jundion about the fame time without oppofition. 

 Jonathan alone, a rebel of great experience, had not yet ap- 

 peared with his troops. The king, on the other hand, did 

 pot feem over anxious to come to an engagement, though 

 his army was every day ready for battle; and his ground 

 VNTas always taken with advantage,. fotliat it was almoft def- 

 perate to pretend to force hinj. 



Jonathan at lafl was on liis way to join the confede- 

 rates ; but the king; had as early intelligence of his motions 

 as his friends : and, while he was yet two days march dif- 

 tant from the camp, the. king, leaving his tents {landing 

 and his fires lighted, by a forced march in the night came 

 upon him, (while he thought him blocked up by his rebel 

 alTociates at a diftance) and, finding Jonathan without pre- 

 paration or defence, cut his whole army to pieces, flew him, 

 and then returned to his own tents as rapidly as he went, 

 having ordered fmall detachments to continue in the way 

 between him and his camp, patroling left fome ambufli 

 iliould be laid for him by the enemy, who, if they had 

 been informed of his march, though they were too late to 

 prevent the fuccefs of it, might ftill have attempted to re- 

 venge it. 



But 



* Conftant in the faith. 



