THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. r^jF 



rallied upon this alTiftance, and Afahel Woodage retired ina di- 

 re<'T:ion palliug clofe under thefepLilchre,Engedan and Confu 

 keeping at a moderate pace on his left between them and the 

 aniiy, and farcing them down, as it were, to the trap they 

 knew was laid for them. They were yet a long fhoi from 

 the cedars that furroimded the fepulchre, when a volley 

 was discharged at them from among the trees, where Mi- 

 chael had polled his 400 men, wnich, though it did little 

 or no execution, terrified Woodage Afahel's men fo much, 

 that Confu and Engedan, charging in that initant a.-, upon 

 a fignal, they all difperfed through different parts of the 

 field, and their leader after them: Joas's Edjow, indeed, 

 would not fall back a Hep upon the volley, but, after an ob- 

 flinate refirtance, they were broken by fuperior numbers,, 

 and forced to retreat before an enemy, fo overcome with 

 fatigue and wounds, as to be unable to purfue them. 



The whole of this engagement lafted near an hour by 

 my watch. One hundred and thirteen of Woodage Afahel's 

 men were flain upon the fpot, and their bloody trophies 

 brought and thrown before the king. On Confu's fide about 

 70 were killed and wounded ; he himfelf received two 

 wounds, one a large flelh wound in the hip, the other more 

 flight upon the head, both of them at the very beginning of 

 the engagement. 



Notwithstanding the natural hardnefs of his heart, 

 and that the misfortune which had happened was in im- 

 mediate difobedience of orders, R as Michael fliewed great 

 fenfibility at hearing Confu was wounded ; he came imme- 

 diately to fee him, a vifit not according to etiquette, and 

 gave him. a flighter reproof than was expeded for leaving 



his- 



