170 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



this vain difcourfe, and feeing no time was to be loft, took 

 hold of the bridle by force, at T, and happily led the horfe 

 along one of the Iheep-paths, ilanting down the declivity of 

 the bank. The king having in vain threatened difpleafure^ 

 and even death, with the butt-end of his lance, in defpair, 

 ftruck Sertza Denghel in the mouth, and beat out all his 

 fore-teeth. A bank of gravel, like a bridge, feparated two 

 deep pools, in the river Mariam, over which the king efca- 

 ped, though with difficulty, the ground being foul with: 

 quick fand. 



All the foot that had remained about the king ran 

 down the bank, where the Begemder horfe could not pur- 

 fue them, and joined him in the valley, where he made the 

 bed of his way towards the fouth fide of the long low hill, 

 by the winding road, on the fide of which, and juft above 

 him, was placed Guebra Mafcal. Ras Michael, who faw the 

 dangerous fituation and efcape of the king, and who had 

 kept Ayto Engedan near for fome fuch purpoles, difpatchccl 

 him with a confiderable body of horfe, along the low hill, 

 ordering him immediately to join the king, and cover his 

 retreat j he likewife detached a confiderable body of muf- 

 quetcers, and mounted for the greater fpeed upon mules, 

 who were direcfted to take poll upon the fouth end of the 

 round hill, below the winding road, while another party 

 poirefled themfelves of fome rocky ground on the fouth fide 

 of the valley. This command was as foon executed as 

 given. Ayto Engedan joined the king, who had loft all his 

 kettle-drums but one, now beating before him, and upon 

 his arrival at the entrance of the valley, the king, at V, turn- 

 ed his face to the enemy, having the mtifquetry, at X and Y, 

 newly arrived from the camp on his right and left. 



Kefla 



