.176 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



begun to require fatisfacftion for the blood of the late king 

 Joas, in the fliedding of which thefe two were particularly 

 concerned. Among the flain were our friends the Baharna- 

 gafli and his fon, who died valiantly fighting before the 

 king at the time he efcaped down the bank into the val- 

 Jey, 



But what ferved as comfort to the king, was the flill 

 'heavier lofs fuftained by the enemy, who, by their own ac- 

 counts that day, loft above 9000 men, feven thoufand of 

 whom were from the troops of Begemder and Lafla, with 

 which the king was engaged. For my own part, I cannot 

 believe, but that both thefe accounts are much exaggerated ; 

 the great proportion that died of thofe that were wounded 

 mull have greatly fwelled the lofs of the rebels, becaufe 

 moll gun-lhot wounds, efpecially if bones are broken, mor- 

 tify, and prove mortal. Among the flain, on the part of Be- 

 gemder, were two chiefs of Laila, and two relations of Po- 

 wufTen, (a brother-in-law and his fon) they were both fliot, 

 bearing the banner of king Theodorus. The unworthy 

 Confu, brother to Guebra Mehedin, and nephew to the Ite- 

 ghe, whom I have often mentioned, had efcaped, indeed, 

 from Kafmati Ayabdar, who had given orders to confine him, 

 to die a rebel this day among the troops of Begemder. 



The king being wafhed and drelTed, and having dined, 

 received a compliment from Ras Michael, who fent him a 

 prefent of fruit, and a thoufand ounces of gold. There be- 

 gan then the fikhieil of all ceremonies that ever difgraced 

 any nation fliling themfelves Chriflians ; a ceremony that 

 -cannot be put in terms fufficiently decent for modefl ears, 

 ^^yszithout adapting the challe language of fcripture, which, 

 2 when 



