104 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



of it ; it is probably placed in fome public colle(^ion, or 

 at leaft ought to be. 



The fire increafing on the hill, and feveral mufquets ha- 

 ving been heard, it was plain the enemy, in all the camps, 

 were alarmed, and our t'urcher ftay became every moment 

 more dangerous. Kefla Yafous now beat a retreat, and 

 fent the horfcmen all round to force the foot to make the 

 beft of their way back, ordering alfo all mules taken to be 

 liam-ftringed and left, not to retard our return. Trumpets 

 and drums were heard from our camp, to warn us not to 

 ftay, as it was not doubted but mifchief would follow, and 

 accordingly we were fcarce arrived within the limits of 

 our camp when we heard the found of horfe in the vair 

 ley, 



Michael, always watchful upon every accident, no 

 fooiier faw the fires lighted on the hill, than he or- 

 dered Guebra Mafcal to place a good body of muf- 

 queteers about half way down the hill, as near as pof- 

 fible to the ford of Mariam, thinking it probable that the 

 enemy would enter at both ends of the long hill, in order 

 to furround thofe who were deftroying their camp, which 

 they accordingly did, whilfi; thofe of our people, who had 

 taken to drinking, fell into the hands of the troops that 

 came by the lower road, and were all put to death. Thofe 

 that reached the upper ford ferved to afford us a fevere re- 

 venge, for Guebra Mafcal, after having feen them pafs ber 

 twcen hiin and the river, though it was a dark and very 

 windy night, guelled very luckily their pofirion, and gave 

 tb,em fo happy a fi.re, that moft of thofe who were not 



flain. 



