THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 233 



derliim, and by his orders, availing himfelf with great 

 attention of all the advantages the ground could afford him. 

 The bafha, confident in the fuperior valour of his troops, 

 thought, now he had got the king between him and the ri- 

 ver, that he would eafily that day finifh Sertza DengheFs 

 life and reign. 



The battle began with the moft determined refolution 

 and vigour on both fides. The Abyflinian foot drove back 

 the Turkifh infantry ; and the king, dismounting from his 

 horfe, with his lance and fhield in his hand, and charging 

 at their head, animated them to preferve that advantage. 

 On the other hand, the bafha, who had foon put to flight 

 part of the Abyflinian horfe with whom he had engaged, 

 fell furioufly upon the foot commanded by the king, the 

 Turks making a great carnage among them with their 

 fabres, and the affair because but doubtful, when Robel, 

 gentleman of the bed-chamber to the king, who commanded 

 the pike-men onhorfeback,part of theking'shoufehcldtroops, 

 feeing his mailer's danger, charged the Turkilh horfe where 

 he faw the bafha in perfon, and, clearing his way, broke his 

 pike upon an officer of the bafha who carried the ftandard 

 immediately before him, and threw him dead at his feet. 

 Being without other arms, he then drew the fhort crooked 

 knife which the Abyflinians always carry in their girdle, 

 and, pufhing up his horfe clofe before the bafha could re- 

 cover from his furprife, he plunged it in his throat, fo that 

 -he expired inftantly. So unlooked-for a fpectacle {truck a 

 panic into the troops. The Turkifh horfe firfl turned their 

 t>acks, and a general route followed. 



Vol. II. O g "The 



