332 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



foldier on both fides, how confummate the king was in the 

 art of war. 



But the Abuna having perfuaded him, that, as foon as 

 the foldiers fhould fee him, they would abandon the king 

 and join his colours, early in the morning he put on his 

 coat of mail, and, mounted on a ftrong and fiery horfe, was 

 proceeding to the king's camp, when Malacotawit, his wife, 

 (daughter to Socinios) perfuaded him at leafl to take fome 

 food to enable him to bear the fatigues of the day. But 

 difdaining fuch advice, he only anfwered furioufly, "That he 

 had fv/orn not to tafte meat till he had brought her her fa- 

 ther's head ;" and, without longer waiting for the refl of 

 his troops, he leaped over the enemy's lines in a quarter 

 where the Abuna had promifed he fhould be well re- 

 ceived.. 



Indeed, on his firfl appearance, no one there oppofed his 

 paflage, but feemed rather inclined to favour him as the 

 Abuna had promifed : And he had now advanced near to a 

 body of Tigre foldiers that were the guard of the king's 

 tent, loudly crying, " Where is your emperor ?" when one 

 of thefe with a (lone ftruck him fo rudely upon the fore- 

 head that it felled him to the ground ; and, being now 

 known, another foldier (called Amda) thruft him through 

 with a fword, and thereafter killed him with many wounds. 

 His head was cut off and carried to Socinios. 



The few that attended him periflied like wife among the 

 foldiers. Nor did any of Julius's army think of a battle, 

 but all fought their fafety by a flight. The king's troops 

 being all frelli, purfucd the fcattered rebels with great vi- 

 gour. 



