5^2 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



It was the 1 7th of May, at night, the attempt had been 

 made on the Ras's Ufe ; and the 18th was fpent in excom- 

 munication before the Abuna ; and, in the evening, Michael 

 received intelligence, that Ayto Tesfos, from the mountains 

 jof Samen, and Heraclius and Samuel Mamhio, from Wal- 

 kayt and Tzegade, were both preparing to join the rebels 

 with a confiderable force. We were now arrived at the fa- 

 tal field of Serbraxos, as we had endeavoured to pafs it, but 

 -in vain ; nothing now remained but to try to which fide 

 the devil (the father of lies) had been forced to tell the 

 truth, or whether he had yet told it to either. Darion, a 

 principal man of BelelFen, and Guigarr of Lafta, joined the 

 Has's army about noon, bringing with them 1 200 men,chief- 

 iy horfemen, good troops, and they were joyfully received, 



A COUNCIL was held with all the great officers that eve- 

 ning, and the order of battle fixed upon for next day. Kef- 

 la Yafous, with the bell of the foot from Tigre, with the 

 king's houfehold troops, the Shoa horfe, and the Moors of Ras 

 el Feel, with their libds, {in all not amounting to j 0,000 

 men, but the flower of the army) compofed the left wing, 

 in the center of which was the king in perfon, the heavy- 

 armed black horfe before him, and the officers and nobi- 

 lity furroundinghim; Guebra Chriilos,and Kafmati Tesfos 

 of Sire, commanded the center, in which was Darion and 

 Gviigarr's cavalry, for the Lafta men, though of different 

 fides, could never be prevailed upon to fight againft one 

 another, fo infl;ead of being with the king againft Begemder 

 and Lafta, they were placed in the center againft Gufho and 

 Anihara. The right of the king's army was commanded 

 by WcUeta Michael and Billetana Gueta Tecia, oppofed to 

 the left wijig of the rebels under Kafmati Ayabdar, who 

 A had 



