4 6o TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



of FafiTs being near at hand ; he like wife directed the Fit- 

 Auraris to advance cautioufly till he had feen Fafil, and tc 

 purfue no party that mould retreat before him. 



i 



The King, the Ras, and the whole army, began to be in 

 pain for Kefla Yafous ; and we mould have changed our 

 ground, and marched forward immediately, had we not 

 heard the alarm-guns fired by Fit-Auraris Netcho, and prc- 

 fently he and his party came in, the men running, and the 

 horfes at full gallop. Ras Michael had given his orders, 

 and returned to the prefence of the king on his mule ; he 

 could not venture among horfc, being wounded in the 

 middle of the thigh, and lame in that leg, but always char- 

 ged on a mule among the mufquetry. He faid iliortly to the 

 king, " No fear, Sir, Hand firm ; Fafil is loft if he fights to- 

 day on this ground," 



Fasil appeared at the top of the hill. I have no guefs about 

 the number of fuch large bodies of troops, but, by thofe more 

 ufed to fuch computations, it is faid he had about 3000 

 horfe. It was a fine fight, but the evening was beginning 

 to be overcafl. After having taken a full view of the army, 

 they all began to move flowl-y down the hill, beating their 

 kettle-drums. There were two trees a little before the ca- 

 valry, that were advanced beyond our front. Fafil fentdown 

 a party to fkirmifli with thefe, and he himfelf halted after 

 having made a few paces down the hill. The two bodies 

 of horfe met jufl half way at the two trees, and mingled 

 together, as appeared at leaf!:, with very decifive intention; 

 but whether it was by orders or from fear, (for they were 

 not overmatched in numbers) our horfe turned their backs 

 and came precipitately down, fo that we were afraid they 

 1 would. 



