286 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



notwithftanding the prefence of Emana Chriflos, to llrike 

 terror into all the territory and towns of Dembea. Nothing 

 was wanted but a king of the royal race for whom to fight. 

 Without a chief of this kind, it was evident that the army, 

 however often fuccefsful, would at laft difperfe. They, 

 therefore, brought one Arzo, a prince of the royal blood, 

 from his hiding-place in Begemder. Arzo, in return for a 

 throne, conferred the place of Ras upon Melchizedec. Za 

 Chriftos, fon of Hatzir Abib, was appointed to the command 

 of the army under him ; and, having finiflied this and many 

 fuch necefTary preparatives, they marched llraight to meet 

 Emana .Chriftos, with a better countenance than rebel ar- 

 mies ^generally bear. 



It was the 9th of March 161 1, at 9 in the morning, when 

 the two armies were firft in light of each other, nor did 

 they long delay coming to an engagement. The battle was 

 very obftinate and bloody ; Melchizedec re-eftabliflied his cha- 

 racter for worth, at leaft as a foldier ; the fame did Za Chriftos. 

 Of the competitor Arzo, hiftory makes no mention ; his 

 blood, probably, was too precious to rifle the fpilling of it, 

 being lb far-fetched as from king Solomon. After a moft 

 obftinate refiftance, part of Za Chriftos's army was broken 

 and put to flight ; but it rallied fo often, and fold the ground 

 it yielded fo dear, that it gave time to Emana Chriftos to 

 .come up to his army's aftiftance. 



The Ras, who was as brave a foldier as he was a wife 

 and prudent general, faw it was a time when all Ihould 

 be riflced, and threw himfelf into the midft of his enemies; 

 and he was now arrived near the place where Melchizedec 

 fought, when that rebel, feeing him advancing fo faft a- 



2 mong 



