638 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



his ajfTiftance the Funge had fubdued Kordofan. This 

 prince, a gallant foldier, could not bruik to fee the green 

 ftandard of his prophet Mahomet flying before an army of 

 Chriftians ; and, being informed of the king's march and fe- 

 paration from the main body nearly as foon as it happened, 

 he propofed to Baady, that, as an allurement to Yafous to 

 pafs the river with only the troops he had with him, he 

 ihould do from prudence what he refolved to do from fear, 

 and fall back behind Sennaar, leaving it to Yafous to en- 

 ter ; but, in the mean time, that, he fliould difpatch him 

 with 4000 of his bell horfe, armed with coats of mail, to 

 pafs theNile at a known place below, on the right of Wel- 

 led de I'Oul, on whom he fhould fall by furprife, and, if 

 lucky enough to defeat him, as was probable, he would 

 then clofe upon Yafous's rear, which would of neceflity 

 either oblige him to furrender, or lofe his life and army in 

 attempting to repafs the river between the two Nubian ar- 

 mies. This counfel, for many reafons was perfedly agree- 

 able to Baady, who inllantly fell back from covering Sen- 

 naar, and then detached Hamis to make a circuit out of 

 fight, and crofs the Nile as propofed. 



In the mean time, Yafous advanced to Bafboch, where 

 he found the cuiTent too rapid, and the river too deep for 

 his infantry. He difpatched, therefore, a melTenger to Wel- 

 led de rOul for a reinforcement of horfe, and gave his in- 

 fantry orders to retire to the main body upon the arrival 

 of the reinforcement of cavalry. This refolution he had 

 taken upon advancing higher up the river from Bafboch, 

 till oppofi^e to the town of Sennaar, and when divided only 

 from it by the Nile. He there faw the confufion that reign- 

 ed in that large town. No preparation for reliftance being 



I vifible. 



