692 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



folved likewife to keep his promife. He retired to Nefas 

 Mufa, and encamped in the fartheft Hmits of his province; 

 behind this are the Woollo Galla, relations of Amitzo the 

 king's parents. Joas and Ras Michael followed him with- 

 out delay, and, having called in all the out-pofts, both fides 

 prepared for an engagement. 



About nine in the morning, Mariam Barea prefented hia 

 army in order of battle. Michael had given orders to Kefla 

 Yafous and Welleta Michael how to form his. He then 

 mounted his mule, and with fome of his officers rode out 

 to view Mariam Barea's difpofition. The king, anxious a- 

 bout the fortune of the day, and terrified at fome reports 

 that had been made him, by timid or unfldlful people, of 

 the warlike countenance of Mariam Barea's army, fent to 

 the Ras, whom he faw reconnoitring, to know his opinion 

 of what was likely to happen. " Tell the king," fays tho 

 veteran, " that a young man like him, fighting with a fubr 

 jedl fo infinitely below him, with an army double his num- 

 ber, fliould give him fair play for his life and. reputation. 

 He fhould fend to Mariam Barea to encreafe the ftrength of 

 his center by placing the troops of Lafla there, or we Ihall 

 beat him in half an hour, without either honour to him or to 

 ourfelves." The king, however, did not underftand that fort 

 of gallantry ; he thought half an hour in fufpence was long 

 enough, and he ordered immediately a large body of muf- 

 quetry to reinforce Fafil, who commanded the center, and 

 thereby he weakened his own right wing, 



Michael, who commanded the right of the royal army,, 

 had placed himfclf and his fire-arms in very rougli ground, 

 where cavalry could not approach him, and where he fired 



as. 



