THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 173 



^S&*= 



CLAUDIUS, or ATZENAF SEGUED, 



From 1540 to 1559. 



Profperous Beginning of Claudius's Reign — Chriftopher de Gama lands* 

 in Abyfinia — Prevented by the rainy Sea/on from joining the King — - 

 Battle of Ainal — Battle ofOffalo — Chriftopher de Gama fain — Battls 

 of Ifaac's Bet — Moors defeated, and their General fain — Abyfinian 

 Army defeated — Claudius fain — Remarkable Behaviour of Nur t Go* 

 vernor of Zeyla, General of the Moors-. 



CLAUDIUS fucceeded his father David IH. being yet 

 young, and found the empire in circumftances that 

 would have required an old and experienced prince. But, 

 though young, he poffeiTed thofe graceful and affable man- 

 ners which, at firft fight,, attached people of all forts to him; 

 He had been tutored with great care by the emprefs Helena, 

 was expert in all warlike exercifes, and brave beyond his 

 years. — So fay the Ahyffinian annals ; and though I have. not 

 thought myfelf warranted to depart from the letter of the 

 context, . yet it is my duty to the. reader to fhew him how; 

 this could not be. 



Claudius was born about the 1522 ; the emprefs Helena 

 died in. 1 5 25. From this it is plain, the firft three years o£ 



1 his 



