276 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



a vigorous purfuit, through a country where every inhabi- 

 tant was an enemy. The king after this returned to his 

 pala<:e at Coga to finifli the bufinefs he had in hand. 



In the mean time, a report was fpread through all Ti- 

 gre, that the king had been defeated by the Galla, and that 

 Ras Sela Chriftos had repaired to Gondar in confequence of 

 that difafter. The impoilor Jacob loft no time in taking ad- 

 vantage of this report. He defcended from his natural for- 

 trefs, and, in conjundlion with the governor of Axum, flew 

 feveral people, and committed many ravages in Sire. The 

 Ras no fooner learned that he was encamped on plaia 

 ground, than he prefented himfelf with the little army he 

 had before ; and, though the odds againft him were excef- 

 five, yet by his prefence and condu6t, the rebels, though 

 they fought tliis time with more than ordinary obftinacy,. 

 were defeated with great lofs, and their leader, the fup- 

 pofed Jacob, forced again to his inaccefiiblc mountains. 



SociNios having now finiilied the affairs which detained 

 him at Coga, and being informed that the fouthern Galla,. 

 refenting the defeat of the Marawa, had entered into a 

 league to invade Abyffinia with united forces, and a com- 

 plete army to burn and lay wafte the whole country be- 

 tween the Tacazze and Tzana, and to attack the emperor 

 in his capital of Coga, which they were determined to de- 

 ftroy, fent orders to Kafmati Julius, his fon-in-law, to 

 join him immediately with what forces he had, as alfo to 

 Refla Chriftos ; and, being joined by both thefe officers and 

 iheir troops, he marched and took poft at Ebenaat in the dif- 

 tri(5l of Beleffen, in the way by which the Galla intended to 

 pafs to the capital, and he refolvcd to await them there. 



3 The 



