2o8 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



it, he was advancing ilowly that he might coUecH: the fcar- 

 tered remains of the army that had been defeated. The 

 Baharnagafh, though viftorious, faw with fome concern 

 that he could not avoid the king, whofe courage and capa- 

 city, both as a foldier and a general, left him every thing 

 to fear for his fuccefs. 



Ever fmce the maffacre of the princes upon mount Ge- 

 flien by vizir Mudgid, in the reign of David III. none of the 

 remains of the royal family had been confined as hereto- 

 fore. Tafcar, Menas's nephew, was then at liberty, and, to 

 flrengthen his caufe, was proclaimed king by the Bahar- 

 nagafh, foon after the defeat of Menas's army under Zara 

 Johannes. He was a prince very mild and affable in his 

 manners, in all refpe«5ts very unlike his uncle then reign- 

 ing. 



It was on the iftof July 1561, that the king attacked the 

 Baharnagafh in the plain of Woggora; and, having entirely 

 routed his army, Tafcar was taken prifoner, and ordered by 

 the king his uncle to be carried to the brink of the high 

 rock of Lamalmon, and, having been thrown over the fleep 

 precipice, he was dafhed to pieces. Ifaac himfelf efcaped 

 very narrowly, flying to the frontier of his government in 

 the neighbourhood of Mafuah. The Baharnagafli compre- 

 hended diftinftly to what a dangerous fituation he was now 

 reduced. No hopes of fafety remained but in a peace with 

 the baflia. This at firft appeared not eafily obtained ; for, 

 while liaac remained in his duty in the reign of Claudius, 

 he had fought with the baflia, and loft his brother in the en- 

 gagement. But prefent neceility overcame the memory of 



pafl injuries. 



Samur 



