THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 15 



interefts of the king, had been affamnated and robbed in 

 the province of Ifat, when the King was bufied with Ho- 

 norius and his Monks. Without complaining or expofhila- 

 ting, he fuddenly affembled his troops, having ordered them 

 to rendezvous at Shugura upon the frontiers, and, to mew 

 his impatience for [revenge, with feven * horfemen he fell 

 upon the neareft Mahometan fettlements, who were perfect- 

 ly fecure, and put all he found in his way to the fword with- 

 out exception. Then placing himfelf at the head of his 

 army, he marched^ by a long day's journey, ftraight to Ifat, 

 burning Hungura, Jadai, Kubat, Fadife, Calife, and Argai, 

 towns that lye in the way, full of all forts of valuable mer- 

 chandife, and, finding no where a force aiTembled to op- 

 pofe him, he divided his army into fmall detachments, fend- 

 ing them different ways, with orders to lay the whole 

 countries, where they came, wafle with fire and fword, 

 while he himfelf remained in the camp to guard the fpoil„ 

 the women, and the baggage- 



The Moors, aftonifhed at this torrent of defolation, which 

 fo fuddenly had broken out under a prince whom they 

 had confidered as immerfed in pleafure, new all to arms ; 

 and being informed that the king was alone, and fcarcely 

 had foldiers to guard his camp, they aiTembled in numbers 

 under the command of Hak-eddin, governor of Ifat, who had 

 before plundered and murdered the king's fervant. They 

 then determined to attack Amda Sion, early in the morning, 

 but luckily two of his detachments had returned to the 

 camp to his afiiitance, and joined him the very night before^ 



Ix 



* It has been imagined that this number fhould be increafed to feventy, but I haTe follo-Vf 

 'A the text 5 there would be little difference in the i&(hnefs cf the action.. 



