THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 41 



manner as is ufual throughout all Abyftinia on the feaft of 

 the Epiphany. This luitration was in honour of Tecla Sion, 

 Avho had confecrated the water, broken all the magic fpells, 

 and changed its name to that of the river Jordan. But, while 

 they were thus employed, the Fit-Auraris had come up with 

 a large party of the enemy, and, with them, a number of 

 women, provided with drugs to poifon and inchant the wa- 

 ter; and this numerous body of fanatics had fallen fo 

 rudely on the Fit-Auraris that it beat him back on the main 

 body, to whom he brought the news of his own defeat. 



A violent panic immediately feized the whole Abyffinian 

 army, and they refufed to advance a Hep farther. The tents 

 had been left Handing on the fide of the river they firft 

 came to, and they then pafled to the other fide. But, 

 upon fight of the Fit-Auraris, they returned to -the tents, 

 that, having the river on their front, they might fight the 

 enemy with more advantage if they came to attack them. 

 They did not continue long in this refolution ; the greateft 

 part of them were for leaving their tents, and retiring to A- 

 byflinia for affiftance, and, when the numbers mould be 

 more upon an equality, return to fight the enemy. The 

 Moorifli army at this inftant coming in fight, increafed the 

 number of converts to this opinion. 



The king, in the utmoft agony, galloping through the 

 ranks, continued to ufe all manner of arguments with his 

 mutinous foldiers. He told them, that retiring to their 

 camp was to put themfelves in prifon ; that, being moflly 

 compofed of horfe, their advantage was in a plain like that be- 

 fore them ; that retreating to join the main body, at fuch a 

 diftance, was a vain idea, as the enemy was fo clofe at their 



Vol. II. F heels. 



