530 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



appointed feveral officers that were moft needed, in the 

 army, the provinces, and about his perfon. During his ftay 

 here, news were brought that Dermin had followed him 

 ftep by ftep in the very track he had marched, and laid the 

 whole country wafte that had fhewn hnn any countenance 

 or favour. AmdaSion's heart feemed to fail him upon this ; 

 for he left Dingleber, croiTed the ford at Delakus, and en- 

 deavoured to pafs Dermin, by keeping on the wefl fide of 

 the Nile, and on the low road by which he returned to 

 Ibaba. 



Dermin, well-informed as to his motions, and perfetSlly 

 inftru(51:ed in the fituation of the country, inftead of palling 

 him, turned lliort upon his front, croffing the Nile at Fagit- 

 ta, and forced him to an engagement in the plain country 

 of Maitlha. The battle, though it was obflinately fought 

 hy the rebels, ended in a complete vidlory in favour of the 

 king. Thole among the rebels who moft dillinguillied 

 themfelves were the banillied monks, the greateft part of 

 whom were llain fighting defperately. Among chefe, were 

 AbbaWelleta Chriftos, Tobias and his brother Abba Nicolaus, 

 who had been ringleaders in the late religious difputes in 

 the time of Yafous, and were now chiefs of the rebellion a-- 

 gainft his fon. . 



The greateft part of the lofs fell upon the common inen 

 of Gojam, of the clans Elmana and Denfa. No man of 

 note am.ong them was loft; only Amda Sion, who fell at 

 their head in the beginning of the engagement, fighting 

 with all the bravery that could be expetSted from a man in 

 iiis circumftanccs. The rebel army was entirely difperfed. 



On 



