THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 175 



T fear it may be dill too juflly charged. I therefore fliali 

 only fay for connexion's fake, that Gufho and Guebra Chri- 

 ftos, in the center, were but partially engaged, and Kafniati 

 Tesfos of Sire, fecond commander for the king, in that di- 

 vifion, wounded, and taken pnfoner. Guebra Chrillos, the 

 king's tmcle, was flain, (as it was believed) by afhotof his 

 own men; few other lives of note were loft on either fide, 

 in that divifion. The king's troops fell back under the hill 

 of Serbraxos, where Michael was, and, though followed by 

 Guflio, were no hirther attacked by him. But on the right, 

 Billetana Gueta 'lecla, and Welleta Michael, after a very ob- 

 ilinate and bloody engagement, were beaten by Kafmati 

 Ayabdar, and forced acrofs the river Mogetch, where, ha- 

 ving rallied and pofted themfelves llrongly, it was not 

 thought proper to attempt to force them, and they all join- 

 ed the camp foon after the king, but with very great lofs. . 



This battle, though it was rather a vi(51:ory than a defear,. 

 had, however, upon the king's affairs, all the bad confe- 

 quences of the latter, nor was there any thinking man who 

 had confidence in them from that day forward. Near 

 3000 men perifhed on the king's fide, a great proportion of 

 whom was of the left wing, which he commanded ; near 

 180 young men, of the greateft hopes and noblcft families 

 in the kingdom, were among that number; Guebra 

 Chriftos was in all refpefts a truly national lofs. Kcfla Ya- 

 fous was twice wounded, but not dangeroufly, befides a 

 multitude of others of the firft rank, among whom was Ayto 

 Engedan, who by proper care foon recovered alfo, but in 

 the mean time was fent to Gondar, to his coulin Ayto Cor- 

 fu. On our fide, too, a fon of Lika Netch©, and a fon of Ne- 

 hritTeclaj were boili {Iain. — Providence feemed now to have 



begun 



