258 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



faved themfelves by the goodncfs of their horfes, and join- 

 ed the king, being the firft meiTengcrs of their own de- 

 feat. 



Jacob received the news of this misfortune without: 

 any apparent concern. On the contrar}% he took Za Se- 

 lalTe roundly to talk for having loft fuch an army by his 

 mifcondu(5l ; and from that time put on a coolnefs of car- 

 riage towards him that could not be bruiked by fuch a cha- 

 rac5ter. He made direft propofals to Socinios to join him, if 

 he could be affured that his fervices would be well received, 

 Socinios, though he repofed no confidence in one that had 

 changed fides fo often, was yet, for his own fake, delirous to 

 deprive his rival of an ofhccr of fuch credit and reputation 

 with the foldiers. He therefore promifed him a favourable 

 reception; and, a. treaty being concluded, Socinios marched 

 into Gojam, followed by Jacob, and there was joined by Za . 

 SelalTe whom Jacob had made governor of that province. 



jAcon,notknowinghowfarthisdefertionmightextend, and 

 to fliewSocinios the little value he fet upon his newacquifition, 

 immediately advanced towards him, and offered him battle. 

 This was what Socinios very earneftly v/ifhed for; but, as his. 

 army was much inferior to Jacob's, he feemed to decline it 

 from motives of fear, till he had found ground proper for 

 his army to engage in with advantage. 



Jacob, fenfible of the great fuperiority he had, (hiftorians 

 fay it was nearly thirty to one) grew every day more impa- 

 tient to bring Socinios to an engagement, fearing he might 

 retreat, and thereby prolong the war, which he had no 

 doubt would be finished by the firft adion. Therefore he 



2 was 



