aio TRAVELS TO DISCOVER. 



the troops to refrefh themfelves, for he was that day refol- 

 ved to try the fortune of another battle. To this, however^ 

 it was replied by all the principal officers, That the army 

 was ftarving, therefore a refrefliment at this time was out 

 of the queftion, and that fighting was as much fo ; for Gu- 

 Iho, having fent to the Abuna and to the King, had folemn- 

 ly excommunicated his whole army if any harm was of- 

 fered to them in perfon or baggage, if they marched direcft- 

 ly back to Gondar that night, as they had of their own accord, 

 before intended ; and that the army was refolved, therefore,- 

 as one man, to return ; and, if tlie Ras did not agree 

 to it, there was great fear they would difband in the night, 

 and leave him in the hands of the enemy, without terms. 

 The Ras was now obliged to make a virtue of neceffity; and 

 it was given in orders, that the army fhould be ready to de- 

 camp at eight in the evening, but nobody fliould ilrike 

 their tent before that hour on pain of death. The old ge- 

 neral was afliamed to be feen for the firll time flying be- 

 fore his enemies. 



It was plain to be read in everybody's countenance, 

 that this refolution was agreeable to them all. I confefs,. 

 however, that I thought the meafure a very dangerous one, 

 conlidcring how much blood the king's army had fo lately 

 fpilt, and the ordinary prejudices univerfally adopted in 

 that country, allowing to every individual the right of re- 

 taliation. Before 1 llruck my tent, 1 called Yallne to me^ 

 and told him that Ayto Confu, being wounded and a pri- 

 foner, myfelf neceflarily obliged to attend the king, and 

 the event of that night's retreat unknown to any body, I 

 thought he could do neither himfelf nor me any further 

 fervice by ftaying where he was i that therefore, fo long as. 



the 



