THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 391 



below were in imminent danger of being daflied to pieces 

 by the large ftones rolled down upon them. The prince 

 divided his army into two parties, exhorting them, without 

 lofs of time, to attack that poll ; but the rebels, feeing the 

 good countenance with which they afcended, forfook their 

 flation and fled ; fo that this fecond mountain was gained 

 with much lefs- lofs and diflSculty than tlie firll. 



Behind this, and higher than all the reft, appeared the 

 third, which ftruck the aflailants at firft with terror and 

 defpair. This was carried with ftill lefs lofs on the part of 

 the prince, becaufe he was aflifted by the Inaches and Por- 

 tuguefe, who cut off the communication below, and hinder- 

 ed one mountain from fuccouring the other. Here they 

 found great ftore of arms, offenfive and defenfive ; coats of 

 mail, mules, and kettle drums ; and they penetrated to the 

 head-quarters of Melca Chriftos, which was a fmall moun- 

 tain, but very ftrong in fituation, where a Portuguefe captain 

 feized the feat which ferved as a throne to the rebel ; and, 

 had not they loft time by falling to plunder, they would have 

 taken Melca Chriftos himfelf, who with diihcalty efcaped, 

 accompanied by ten liorfe. 



To this laft mountain Socinios repaired with the prince, 

 and they were joined by the governors of Amhara and 

 Tigre, who had forced their way in from the oppolite 

 fide. 



Hitherto all had gone well with the king ; but when he 

 had detached Guebra Chriftos, governor of Begemder, with 

 the Inaches and Portuguefe, who were at fome diftance,to de- 

 ftroy the crop, die mountaineers, again aiTemblcd on a higii 



hilL 



