THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 177 



But intelligence was now given to the Moors with much 

 lefs punctuality and alacrity than formerly. So generally 

 did the king poffefs the affections of the country-people, 

 that no information came to the confederate army till the 

 next day after his return, when, early in the morning, he 

 difpatched one of the Moorifh prifoners that he had taken 

 three days before, and fpared for the purpofe, carrying with 

 him the head of Jonathan, and a full account of the havock 

 to which he had been a witnefs,, 



This meffenger bore alfo the king's defiance to the Moors, 

 whom he challenged, under the odious epithets they de- 

 ferved, to meet him; and then actually to fhew he was in 

 earneft, marched towards them with his army, which he 

 formed in order of battle. But tho' they flood under arms 

 for a confiderable time, whilft feveral invitations to lingle 

 combat were fent from the Chriftian horfemen, as their cuf- 

 tom is, before they engage, or when. their camps are near 

 each other, yet the Moors werefo aftonifhed at what had hap- 

 pened, and what they faw now before them, that not one offi- 

 cer would advife the riiking a battle, nor any one foldier ac- 

 cept of the challenge offered. The king then returned to 

 his camp, distributed the whole booty among his foldiers, 

 and refrefh.ed them, preferring a proper Station to cover the 

 wounded, whom. he fent off to places of fecurky. 



The king was in the country of Samen in the neighbour- 

 hood of Lafla. He" then decamped and paffed the river Ta- 

 cazze, that he might be nearer thofe diftricts of which the 

 Turks had poffeffed themfelves. In this march all forts of 

 people joined the victorious army. Thofe that had revolted, 

 and many that had apoitatized, came without fear and fur- 



Vol. II.. Z rendered 



