THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 68i 



time merely in refledion, he had made every preparation 

 poffible, and was ready. So foon then as he received the 

 king's orders, he prepared to march from Adowa with 

 26,000 men, all the bell foldiers in Abyffmia, about 10,000 of 

 whom were armed with firelocks. 



It happened that two Azages, and feveral other great 

 officers, were fent to him into Tigre with thefe orders, and 

 to invell him with the government of Samen. Upon their 

 mentioning the prefent fituation of affairs, Michael fliarply 

 refleAed upon the king's condud, and that of thofe who 

 had counfelled him, which muft end in the ruin of his fa- 

 mily and the ftate in general. He highly extolled Mariam 

 Barea as the only man in Abyffmia that knew his duty, and 

 had courage to perfevere in it. As for himfelf, being the 

 king's fervant, he would obey his commands, whatever they 

 were, faithfully, and to the letter ; but, as holding now the 

 firft place in council, he muft plainly tell him the ruin of 

 Mariam Barea would be fpeedily and infallibly followed by 

 that of his country. 



After this declaration, Michael decamped with his army 

 encumbered by no baggage, not even provifions, women, 

 or tents, nor ufelefs beafts of burden. His foldiers, atten- 

 tive only to the care of their arms, lived freely and li- 

 centioufly upon the miferablc countries through which 

 they paffed, and which they laid wholly wafte as if belong- 

 ing to an enemy. 



He advanced, by equal, fteady, and convenient marches, 



in diligence, but not in hafte. Not content with the lub- 



fiftance of his troops, he laid a compofition of money upon 



^'OL. II. - 4R all 



