THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. igj 



mufqueteers for her guard ; and thus they returned to Do- 

 barwa mutually fatisfied with this their firfl interview. 



Don Christopher marched from Dobarwa eight days 

 through a very rugged country, endeavouring, if poffible, 

 to bring about a junction with the king. And it was in 

 this place, while he was encamped, that he received a mef- 

 fage from the Moorifh general, full of opprobrious expref- 

 fions, which was anfwered in much the fame manner. Don 

 Chriflopher continued his march as much as he could on ac- 

 count of the rains ; and Gragne, whofe greateft defire was 

 to prevent the junction, followed him into Tigre. Neither 

 army deiired to avoid the other, and they were both march- 

 ing to the fame point; fo that on the 25th of March 1542, 

 they came in light of each other at Ainal, a fmall village in 

 the country of the Baharnagafh. 



The Moorifh army coniifted of 1000 horfemen, 5000 foot s . 

 50 Turkifh mufqueteers, and a few pieces of artillery. Don 

 Chriflopher, befides his 450 mufqueteers, had about 12,000 

 Abyffinians, moflly foot, with a few bad horfe commanded 

 by the Baharnagafh, and Robel governor of Tigre. Don 

 Chriflopher, whofe principal view was a junction with the 

 king, though he did not decline fighting, yet, like a good 

 officer, he chofe to do it as much as poflible upon his own 

 terms ; and, therefore, as the enemy exceeded greatly in the 

 number of horfe, he polled himfclf fo as to make the bell 

 of his fire-arms and artillery. And well it was that he did 

 fo, for the Abyffinians fliewed the utmoft terror when the 

 firing began on both fides.. 



Gragne, 



