THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 219 



I took under my care, who both recovered, and from them 

 I learned many particulars of their country and manners. 



The next day, which was the 10th, the army marched in- 

 to the town in triumph, and the Ras at the head of the 

 troops of Tigre. He was bareheaded ; over his moulders, 

 and down to his back, hung a pallium, or cloak, of black 

 velvet, with a filver fringe. A boy, by his right flirrup, held 

 a filver wand of about five feet and a half long, much like 

 the ftaves of our great officers at court. Behind him all the 

 foldiers, who had ilain an enemy and taken the fpoils from 

 them, had their lances and firelocks ornamented with fmall 

 fhreds of fcarlet cloth, one piece for every man he had 

 ilain. 



Remarkable among all this multitude was Hagos, door- 

 keeper of the Ras, whom we have mentioned in the war of 

 Begemder. This man, always well-armed and well-mount- 

 ed, had followed the wars of the Ras from his infancy, and 

 had been fo fortunate in this kind of fingle combat, that his 

 whole lance and javelin, horfe and perfon, were covered over 

 with the Ihreds of fcarlet cloth. At this lafl battle of Fagitta, 

 Hagos is faid to have Ilain eleven men with his own hand. 

 Indeed there is nothing more fallacious than judging of a 

 man's courage by thefe marks of conqueils. A good horfe- 

 man, armed with a coat of mail, upon a ftrong, well-fed, 

 well-winded horfe, may, after a defeat, kill as many of thefe 

 wretched, weary, naked fugitives, as he plcafes, confining 

 himfelf to thofe that are weakly, mounted upon tired horfes, 

 and covered only with goat's-fkins, or that are flying on 

 foot. 



Ee.2 Behind 



