226 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



got out of the line of the troops towards the plain, fpurred 

 my horfe, and arrived at the body of cavalry where the 

 king was. 



As I had a white turban upon my head, (having {haved 

 the fore part of it after the blow I had received from the 

 ftone) I was employed taking this off before I prefented 

 myfelf to the king, when fomebody faid out loud, Ozoro 

 Eilher is taken prifoner. Ras Michael anfwered. That is im- 

 poflible; Ozoro Efther is here. It is Ozoro Altafh and the 

 Abuna, faid I, from behind ; I came juft now from them» 

 By whom are they taken ? fays the king. By the Galla, I 

 bel'^ve, anfwered I ; at leaft by men whofe language I did 

 not underftand, though indeed I took no time to confider, 

 but they are clofe in our rear, and I fuppofe they will be 

 here prefently. Here ! fays the Ras, what will they do 

 here ? It muft be Powuflen, and the troops of Lafla, to re- 

 cover his mother-in-law, that flie may not go to Gondar ;: 

 and it is the Tcheratz Agow language that Yagoube has 

 taken for Galla. It is fo, fays another horfeman ; the people 

 of Lafta have carried her off, but without hurting any body. 

 Tliis I thought a good fign, and that they were under or- 

 ders, for a bloodier or more cruel race was not in the army, 

 the Galla not excepted ; and they had met with their deferts> 

 and had fuffered confiderably in the courfe of this fliort: 

 campaign.. 



The whole road was now as fmooth as a carpet ; and we 

 had fcarce done fpeaking when Ras Michael's mule fell 

 flat on the ground, and threw him upon his face in a fmall 

 puddle of water. He was quickly lifted up unhurt, and fet 

 upon his mule again. We paffed the Mogetch, and at about 



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