THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 157 



light, being down nearer the lake. Nor is it to be uiider- 

 ftood that I mean here to give any account of their move- 

 ments, or of any other, unlefs thofe of tlie left wing under 

 the king, where I was myfelf engaged. 



Several fpies came into Ras Michael at this time, and' 

 they, and the horfemen that had been fent on the fervice, 

 all agreed, that in the center of the Begemder horfe a large 

 red rtandard was difplayed, with a number of kettle drums 

 beating before it, which the Ras no fooner heard, than gi- 

 ving his draft board a kick with his foot, he overturned 

 the whole game, and afforded, at lead, a bad omen of 

 the future engagement. He then called for Kefla Yafous, 

 and Guebra Mafcal, and having conferred with them both, 

 he detutched Guebra Mafcal with five hundred mufqueteers 

 to take pofTellion of the hvU in the valley below, and 

 coaft along the left flank, of our left without appearing in 

 fight. 



The day had been exceeding clofe, feeming to threaten 

 violent thunder, and we were now come fo near as to fee 

 dilbnftly the large red ftandard, which being pointed out 

 to the king, he faid, fmiling with a very chearful coun- 

 tenance, " Aye, aye, now we ftiall foon fee what mira- 

 cle king Theodorus will work." The clouds had been ga- 

 thering ever fince we went down the hill, and fome big 

 drops of rain had fallen. The foldiers were now covering 

 their lighted matches, for fear of more, when firfl a moil 

 violent ftorm of thunder, lightening, and rain began, then 

 a tempeft of rain and wind, and laft a dead calm, with fuch 

 a heavy fhower that I fcarce ever faw the like even in the 

 rainy feafon, 



Hab- 



