THE SOURCE OE THE NILE. 161 



The emprefs Helena died in 1525, the year before the 

 Portuguefe embafTy ended, after having brought about an 

 interview between the two nations, which, by the continual 

 difavowal of Matthew's embafTy, it is plain that David knew 

 not how to turn to his advantage. Soon after her death, 

 the king prepared to renew the war with the Moors, with- 

 out having received the lead advantage from the Portuguefe. 

 But very differently had the people of Adel employed this 

 interval of peace. They had ftrengthened themfelves by 

 the ftricteft friendfhip with the Turkifh officers in Arabia, 

 efpecially with the bafha of Zibit, a large trading port near- 

 ly oppofite to Mafuah. A Turkifh garrifon was put into 

 Zeyla; and a Turk, with a large train of artillery, command- 

 ed in it. All was ready againft the firft invafion the king 

 was to make, and he was now marching directly towards 

 their country. 



The firft retaliation, for the Portuguefe friendfhip, (as we 

 have already obferved) had been the cutting off the caravan 

 for Jerufalem. In revenge for this, the king had marched 

 into Dawaro, and fent a body of troops from that province 

 to fee what was the ftate of the Moorifh forces in Adel. 

 Thefe were no fooner arrived on the frontiers of that king- 

 dom, than they were met by a number of the enemy appoint™ 

 ed to guard thofe confines, and, coming to blows, the Abyf- 

 finians defeated, and drove them into the defert parts of their 

 own country. The king flill advanced till he met the Ma- 

 hometan army, and a battle was fought at Shimbra Core, 

 where the Abyflinian army was totally defeated ; the Bcr- 

 wudet, Hadug Ras, the governor of Amhara, Robel, gover- 

 nor of the mountain of Gefhen, with the greatefl part of 

 the nobility, and four thoufand men, were all flain. 



Vol. II. X Ma 110. 



