THE SOURCE OE THE NILE. ^45 



Tlie king was prepared to meet him, and ready to march 

 from Dancaz. 



Za Denghel immediately marched out into the plain of 

 Bartcho, and in the way was defcrtcd, firft by Ras Athanafi- 

 iis, then by many of his troops ; and, by this great defertion 

 in his army, found the jfirft eiFecfls of the Abuna's curfes, 

 infomuch, that John Gabriel, a Portuguefe officer of the firft 

 diflincStion, advifed the king to retire in time, and avoid a 

 battle, by flying to ftrong-holds for a feafon, till the prefent 

 dehifion among his fubje(5ls Ihould ceafe. But the king, 

 thinking himfclf diflionoured by avoiding the defiance of 

 a rebel, refolved upon giving Za SclalTc battle, vvlio, being 

 an able general, knew well the danger he would incur by 

 delay. 



It was 0(5lober 13th 1704 that the king, after drawing 

 up his army in order of battle, placing 200 Portuguefe, with 

 a number of Abyffinian troops, on the right, took to him- 

 fclf the charge of the left, and called for Peter Paez to give 

 liim ablolution; br.t that Jcfuit was occupied at a conve- 

 nient diftance in Tigrc, by his cxorcifms deftroying ants, 

 butterflies, mice, locufls, and various other enemies, of much 

 inore importance, in his opinion, than the life of a king 

 who had been blindly, but dirc(5lly conducted to flaughter 

 -by his fanatical preachings. 



The battle began with great appearance of fiicccfs. On 

 the riglit, tlie Port\iguefc, led by old and veteran oflicers-, 

 deftroyed and overturned every thing before them with 

 their fire-arms : but on the left, where the king command*- 

 ■ed, things went otherwifc, for the whole of this divifion 



Vol. II. I i fled. 



