126 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



his port in the town, as well as for his fighting without 

 his orders. Confu, witli great luhmillion and addrefs at 

 the fame time, excufed his leaving his poft, from the repeat- 

 ed information he had received that a decilive battle was 

 to be fought that day, and knowing the Ras's want of 

 horfe, he could not flay at Gondar, and keep his idle, when 

 the fate of fo kmd a father, (as the Ras had been) and that 

 of a another, to whom he owed every thing, was depend- 

 ing. He faid it would be more agreeable to him to die by 

 the hands of the executioner of the camp, as an example 

 for difobedience of orders, than furvive with the refledlion 

 that he had been voluntarily abfent from fiich an occauon. 

 As for engaging with Ai'ahel Woodage that day, he faid he 

 had no intention of that kind ; that he knew not who he 

 was when he attacked him, and only endeavoured to hin- 

 der him from harrafling the rear of the army, and deftroy- 

 ing the provilions : That when he charged him firft, Wood- 

 age was among the women, loaded with bouza, flour, and 

 fpirits, which were coming to the Ras, and great part of 

 which he had intercepted, as the Ras would find. Michael 

 could not help laughing at this lad part of the excufe, but 

 went away, and, in his converfation that evening, gave Con- 

 fr the highefl: praifes for his conduct and bravery, but 

 faid nothing of his fault. 



Engedan was next arraigned for fighting without orders. 

 He, too, anfwered with great humility, That when he faw 

 the infantry run down the hill, with their matches lighted, 

 he thought it was the Ras's intention to relieve Confu - by 

 the moft effedual means poffible; but at any rate he could 

 never, with arms in his hands. Hand looking on, while his 

 coufin-german and companion was mafiacred by Gall a. 

 4 Ail 



