THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 123 



We had not encamped long, before the rear came in 

 fight, Confu, fon of Ozoro Either, whom the Ras had left 

 to guard Gondar, hearing how near the enemy was, and 

 the probability of a battle that day, had left his poft, and 

 joined Yafme, with the horfe of Ras el Feel, that were in 

 the rear ; foon after this juncftion, Afahel Woodage, with 

 about 400 men, partly Edjow Galla, (the late king Joas's 

 houfehold) partly Maitfha, came up from the Denibea fide 

 of the lake Tzana, and began to harrafs the rear, marching 

 in great confufion. Conlu, though fomething fuperior in 

 number, was thought to be inferior in the goodnefs of 

 troops by much more than the difference ; but the event 

 proved the contrary, for he charged Woodage Afahel fo for- 

 cibly, that he obliged him to quit our rear, and retire acrofs 

 the plain at a pace, which if not a flight, did very much re- 

 femble it. Ayto Confu preffed vigoroufly upon him, till, 

 being now clear of the rell of the army, and in the fair 

 open plain, Woodage wheeled (hortly about, and fiiewed 

 by his countenance that it was not to avoid Ayto Confu, 

 but Ras Michael's mufquetry, that he retreated to a greater 

 diflance ; both fides llopt to breathe their horfes for fome 

 minutes ; but it was plain afterwards, Afa.hel Woodage, an 

 old foldier, trufled much to the known valour of his troops, 

 and willied to Ifrike a blow of confequehce in prefence of 

 his old enemy the Ras, 



Ras Michael was at the door of his tent then playing at 

 dams, or drafts, as was his cuftom, and Ozoro Either v/as 

 trembling to fee her fon on the point of being furrounded 

 by mercilefs Galla, the nation who moil of all flie detefted, 

 and who had every caufe to hate her. All the young men, 

 (Confu's friends) with their lances in their hands, and rea- 



0^2 dy 



