268 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



the Eed Sea, had been the theatre of the war. The 

 Turks had completely ruined them, and Mehemet had 

 burnt the city of Axoum and destroyed all the 

 churches and convents of Tigre, Claudius being 

 occupied during the end of his reign in repairing 

 these disasters. 



But Del-Tumborea, the widow of Mehemet, did her 

 best to keep up the war, for she told Nur, the 

 Governor of Zeyla, who was madly in love with her, 

 that she would only give her hand to the man who 

 brought her the head of Claudius, the conqueror of 

 Mehemet. 



Nur eagerly accepted the challenge, and sent a 

 message to Claudius, bidding him defiance. Claudius 

 quickly reassembled his army and marched upon 

 Adel, contrary to the advice of the queen-mother and 

 his friends, who advised him to wait the coming of 

 the Moors. The battle was a very bloody one, but 

 the Abyssinians were worsted, and Claudius suc- 

 cumbed after receiving twenty wounds. His head 

 was cut off and brought by Nur to Del-Tumborea, 

 who had it suspended by the hair from a tree facing 

 her house, in order that her eyes might ever be able 

 to feed upon a spectacle so grateful to them. 



Claudius had reigned nineteen years, and the battle 

 in which he perished was fought on March 22nd, 

 1559. The principal officers of his army perished 

 with him, and a great part of the army was made 

 captive, the remainder being dispersed and the camp 



