THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. j% 



deftroying all before him. The fecond of November he 

 burnt the church of Mecana SelalFe of the holy fepulchre, 

 and Atronfa Mariam ; and, on the 8th of the fame month, 

 Ganeta Georgis ; on the 2d of December, Debra Agezia-be- 

 her; the 6th of the fame month, St Stephen's church ; after 

 which he returned to Adel with his booty. ■ 



The following year Gragne returned in April, plunder- 

 ed and burnt Warwar, and wintered there. In the year 1530 

 Gragne invaded the province of Tigre in the month of Oc- 

 tober, while the king, who had wintered in Dembea, march- 

 ed up to Woggora ; thence, in December, he went to Tfala- 

 met, and returned to Tigre to keep the feaft of the Epi- 

 phany. 



The king, next year, marched through Tzegade, and 

 Gragne clofe followed him, as if he had been hunting a 

 wild beaft rather than making war. The 2d of January he 

 burnt Abba Samuel, then went down into Mazaga the bor- 

 ders of Sennaar to a conference with Muchtar, one of his 

 confederates, when it'was refolved that they mould fight 

 the king wherever they could meet him, and attach them- 

 felves to his perfon alone. Gragne by forced marches over* 

 took the king upon the Nile at Delakus, the 6th of Febru- 

 ary, and offered him battle, knowing the proud fpirit of 

 David, that he would not refufe, however great the difpro- 

 portion was. 



The event was fuch as Tnight be expected. Fortune 

 again declared again!!: the king. Negade Yafous, Acab 

 Saat, and many others of the nobility perifhed, fighting 

 to the laft, in the light of their fovereign. In this bat- 



X 2 .tie 



