THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 257 



they came up with Socinios in Begemder. Jacob advanced 

 fo near him that his tent could be diftinftly feen from that 

 of Socinios, and, on the morrow, Jacob and Za Selafle, draw- 

 ing up their armies, offered Socinios battle. 



That wife prince faw too well that he was overmatched ; 

 and, though he defired a battle as much as Jacob, it was not 

 upon fuch terms as the prefent. He declined it, and kept 

 hovering about them as near as poffible on the heights and 

 uneven ground, where he could not be forced to fight till 

 it perfeftly fuited his own intereil. 



This refufal on the paj't of Socinios did but incrcafe Za 

 Selafle's pride. He defpifed Jacob as a general, and thought 

 that Socinios declining battle was owing only to the ap- 

 prehenfion he had of his prefence, courage, and abilities. 

 He continued parading with the fcparate army, perfedtly 

 intoxicated with confidence and an imaginary fuperiority, 

 neglecting all the wholefome rules of war rigidly adhered 

 «to by great generals for the fake of difcipline, however di- 

 ftant they may be from their enemy. 



It was not long before this was told Socinios, who foon 

 faw his advantage in it, and thereupon refolved to fight Za 

 Selafle fingly, and watch attentively till he fliould find him 

 as far as pofllble from Jacob. Nor did he long wait for the 

 occafion ; for Za Selafle, attempting to lead his army through 

 very uneven and ftony ground, called the Pofs of Mount De- 

 fer, and at a confiderable diftance from Jacob, Socinios at- 

 tacked him while in the pafs fo rudely, that his army, en- 

 tangled in broken and unknown ground, was furrounded 

 and almoft cut to pieces. Za Selaffe, with a few followers,. 



Vol. II. Kk ^ faved 



