i82 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



I THEN took the red colours from the fervant behind me, 

 and going to the carpet fpread before the king, laid them 

 at his feet, faying, " So may all your majefty's enemies fall, 

 as this arch rebel (the bearer of this) has fallen to-day ;" a 

 great murmur was immediately raifed upon feeing thefe 

 colours, and the king cried out with the utmofl impatience, 

 " Has he fallen into your hands, Yagoube ? who was he, 

 where did you meet him, or where did you flay him?" " Sir, 

 faid I, it was not my fortune to meet him to-day, nor did 

 I flay him. I am no king-killer ; it is a fm, I thank God, 

 from which my anceftors are all free; yet, had Providence 

 thrown in my way a king like this, I believe I might have 

 overcome my fcruples. He was killed, as 1 fuppofe, by a fliot 

 of Guebra Mafcal, on the flank of our line; a foldier picked up 

 the colours on the field, and brought them to me in hopes 

 of reward, while you was engaged with the troops of Begem- 

 der, near the bank ; but the merit of his death is with Gue- 

 bra Mafcal. I do him this juflice, the rather becaufe he is 

 the only man in your majefty's army who bears me ill-will, 

 or has been my conftant enemy, for what reafon I know 

 not; but God forbid, that on this, or any perfonal account, 

 I fhould not bear vvitnefs to the truth : this day, my for- 

 tune has been to be near him .during the whole of it, and I 

 fay it from certain infpe<5tion, that to the bravery and ac- 

 tivity of Guebra Mafcal every man in your left wing owes 

 his life or liberty." — " He is a fliame and difgrace to his 

 family, fays the king's fecretary, who was ftanding by him, 

 if after this he can be your enemy." — "It mull beamiftake, 

 fays the king's prieft (Kiis Hatze), for this fliouid atone for 

 it, though Yagoube had flain his brother." 



4 While 



