t66 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



At this time Ofman of Dawaro, Jonadab, Kefia, Yotifef, 

 and other rebel Abyflinians, part of Ammer's army, one of 

 Gragne's generals, furprifed the king's eldeft fon, Victor, go- 

 ing to join his father the 7th day of March ; flew him, and 

 difperfed his army. Three days after, the king himfelf came 

 to action, with Ammer at Zaat in Waag, but he was there 

 again beaten, and his youngeft fon Menas was taken pri- 

 foner. The king had fcarce now an attendant, and, being 

 almoft alone, he took refuge among the rocks and bufhes 

 in a high mountain called Tfakm, in the diftridfc of Tfalamer. 

 But he had not remained above a day there, when he was 

 followed by Joram, (rebel-mafter of that diftrict) and narrow- 

 ly efcaped being taken as he was croffing the Tacazze on 

 foot and alone ; whence he took refuge on mount Tabor, a 

 very high mountain in Sire, and there he palled the winter. 



The amazing fpirit and conftancy of the king, who a- 

 lone feemed not to forfake the caufe of his kingdom, who 

 now, without children or army, ftill lingly, made war for 

 the liberty of his country, aftonifhed all Abyfunia as well 

 friends as enemies. Every veteran foldier, therefore, that 

 could efcape the fmall parties of the Moors which furround- 

 ed the king, joined him at Tabor, and he was again at the 

 head of a very fmall, but brave body of troops, though it 

 was fcarcely known in what part of the kingdom he was 

 hid. When Achmet-eddin, lieutenant of Ammer, palTed 

 through Sire, loaded with the fpoils of the churches and 

 towns he had plundered, the king, finding him within his 

 reach, descended from the mountain, and, by a fudden 

 .march, furprifed and new him with his own hand, leaving 

 the greateft part of his army dead on the field. After which 

 l^e.diflributed the booty among his fmall army. 



•Ammep^ 



