THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 135 



engagement happened pretty much in the fame place and 

 manner as that with Woodage Afahel and Ayto Confu, ni 

 full view of the camp, and affiftance was fent on both fides 

 to the refpe6live parties. The troops commanded by Aylo, 

 brother of Engedan, and Guebra Mafcal, were beaten back 

 almoil: clofe to the camp, by the horfe led by the Edjow Gal- 

 la, though brave and veteran foldiers, while Ras Michael 

 oi^ered Yafme and his 200 from Ras el Feel, (all with their 

 libds on) to charge the Galla, now advanced very near. 

 Each horfe had a number of brafs bells at his neck, and 

 they no fooner appeared than the whole cavalry of the ene- 

 my, ftarting at the hideous figure and noife, fell into con- 

 fufion, and, being clofcly prefled with violent blows of their 

 great fwords, no longer difputed the ground, but left the 

 field on the gallop. A beautiful grey horfe of Guflio's, fu- 

 perbly ornamented with gold and filver, and having a very 

 rich broad-fword hanging at his faddle, and a pole-ax on 

 the other fide under the furcingle, was taken by fome fol- 

 diers of Ras el Feel, who fpread the report inilanily that 

 Gufho was flain. Immediately on this, orders were given 

 for the whole army to defcend into the plain, which they 

 did with great alacrity, forming in order of battle, though 

 neither the king nor Ras Michael left the camp, nor did 

 any adverfary appear ; and. the troops, content with this 

 bravado, returned again in great fpirits to the camp. 



This is the account I heard of that day^s fkirmifli, for I 

 was not prefent there, being at Gondar with Ayto Confu. 

 In the evening of that very day amved a mefienger from 

 Guflio, telling Ras Michael, that a young boy, a nephew of 

 his, had, without his knowledge, gone to fee the engage- 

 ment, and had taken with him his- favourite horfe, who, 



being 



