THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 47 



Mahometans to a ftate of weaknefs that mould make them 

 no longer formidable to Abyflinia, or, if profperous fortune 

 flill attended them further, extirpate the people and religion 

 together. — This opinion prevailed. 



The king, therefore, difmiiTed his baggage, his women, 

 children, fervants, and ufelefs people. He retained an army 

 of veteran foldiers only, more formidable than fix times the 

 number that could be brought againft them ; and, trailing 

 now to the country into which he marched for fupport, 

 he advanced, and entered a town called Zeyla, and there 

 took up his quarters. He had fcarce taken poffeilion of 

 the town, when that very night he fent a detachment to fur- 

 prife a large and rich village called Taraca, where he put 

 all the men to the fword, making the women Haves for 

 the fervice of the army, inftead of thofe whom he had fent 

 home. 



The king's views, by fuch fmall expeditions, were to ac- 

 cuftom his foldiers to fight out of his prefence, and wean 

 them from a perfuaiion, now become general, that victory 

 could not be obtained but where he commanded. 



On the 10th of July, the king continued his march, with- 

 out opposition, to Darbe, whence, the next morning, he fent 

 different parties to the right and left, to burn and deftroy 

 the country. They accordingly laid wafte all the province of 

 Gam, flaying Abdullah the Sherriife, who was the governor 

 and fonofSaruch the Imam, author of the confpiracy againft 

 him. From thence he fell fuddenly upon Abalge and Ta- 

 lab, a large diilricl belonging to the king of Adel. 



This 



