THESOURCEOFTHENILE. 183 



mufqiieteers for her guard ; and thus they returned to Do- 

 barwa mutually fatisfied with this their firft interview. 



Don Christopher marched from Dobarwa eight days 

 through a very rugged country, endeavouring, if poffible, 

 to bring about a jundion with the king. And it was in 

 this place, while he was encamped, that he received a mef- 

 fage from the Moorifh general, full of opprobrious expref- 

 fions, which was anfwered in much the fame manner. Don 

 Chriftopher continued his march as much as he could on ac- 

 count of the rains ; and Gragne, whofe greaieft defire was 

 to prevent the jundion, followed him into Tigre. Neither 

 army defired to avoid the other, and they were both march- 

 ing to the fame point; fo that on the 2jth of March i542» 

 they came in fight of each other at Ainal, a fmall village in 

 the country of the Baharnagafh. 



The Moorifli army confided of 1000 horfemcn, 5000 foot,. 

 50 Turkifli mufciueteers, and a few pieces of artilleiy. Doiir 

 Chriftopher, befides his 450 mufqueteers, had about 1 2,000 

 Abyffinians, moftly foot, with a few bad horfe commanded 

 by the Baharnagafli, and Robel governor of Tigre. Don 

 Chriftopher, whofe principal view was a jundion with the 

 king, though he did not decline fighting, yet, like a good 

 ofRcer, he chofe to do it as much as poffible upon his own 

 terms ; and, therefore, as the enemy exceeded greatly in the 

 number of horfe, he pofted himfelf fo as to make the beft 

 of his fire-arms and artillery. And well it was that he did 

 fo, for the Abyflinians fliewed the utmoft terror when the 

 firing began: on both fides.. 



Gragne, 



