T H E S O U R C E O F T H E N I L E. 141 



mg him to fend a body of frefh horfe to fupport the caval- 

 ry of his divifion, with an intention, if poffible, to bring on 

 a general engagement. In the mean time he ordered Kef- 

 la Yafous to keep firm, as he then was, in the poll of Ser- 

 braxos, and not to advance till he was fure that Giilho 

 and Ayabdar had left their gromid, joined PowufTen, and 

 were engaged with him at the fouth end of rhe valley. 

 Thefe inftrudtions were perfectly underllood by that faga- 

 cious and veteran general. He detached 500 Shoa, with 

 near the fame number of horfe belonging to Engedan, and 

 commanded by him, and thefe, joined t© the cavalry already 

 in the van, again attempting to pafs the plain, were at- 

 tacked by PowufTen and the troops of Begemder, who had 

 been likewife reinforced, and after an obftinate engage-*, 

 ment they had retired into the mouth of the valley, not 

 from being a(flually beaten, but by dirc(5lion of Ras Mi- 

 chael, in order to bring the enemy purfuing them under 

 the fire of the mufquetry, on each fide of. the entrance of 

 the valley.. 



I WAS exceedingly curious to have feen this engagement,-, 

 and I begged Kefla Yafous to fpeak to the king to permit me 

 to go fmgly with Engedan. To this, however, I had a flat 

 refufal, not without fome marks of peeviflmefs and difplea- 

 fure, which Kefla Yafous qualified by faying, " Don't be dif* 

 mayed, you fhali fee ;" and in that inflant the word was 

 given to march to the right, whilll the troops left the valley 

 between the long hill and the mountains,, and took poll on 

 the fide of the river Mariam, with their faces fronting the 

 weft. The mufquetry was placed upon the eminences to the 

 north and fouth, as if to defend the ford of the river, thro! 

 which, the entrance was, to the north end of the valley. Mi-. 



cliaelj,. 



