THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 149 



The king was prepared to meet him, and ready to march 

 from Dancaz. 



. Za Denghel immediately marched out into the plain of 

 Bartcho, and in the way was deferted, firft by Ras Athanafi- 

 us, then by many of his troops ; and, by this great defertion 

 in his army, found the firft. effects of the Abuna's curfes, 

 infomuch, that John Gabriel, a Portuguefe officer of the firft 

 diftinction, advifed the king to retire in time, and avoid a 

 battle, by flying to ftrong-holds for a feafon, till the prefent 

 delufion among his mbjec'ts mould ceafe. But the king, 

 thinking himfelf difhonoured by avoiding the defiance of 

 a rebel, refolved upon giving Za Selaffe battle, who, being 

 an able general, knew well the danger he would incur by 

 delay. 



It was October 13th 1704 that the king, after drawing 

 up his army in order of battle, placing 200 Portuguefe, with 

 a number of Abyflinian troops, on the right, took to him- 

 felf the charge of the left, and called for Peter Paez to give 

 him abfolution ; but that Jefuit was occupied at a conve- 

 nient diftance in Tigre, by his exorcifms deftroying ants, 

 butterflies, mice, locufls, and various other enemies, of much 

 more importance, in his opinion, than the life of a king 

 who had been blindly, but directly conducted to flaughter 

 by his fanatical preachings. 



The battle began with great appearance of fuccefs. On 

 the right, the Portuguefe, led by old and veteran officers, 

 deftroyed and overturned every thing before them with 

 their fire-arms : but on the left, where the king command- 

 ed, things went otherwife, for the whole of this divifion 



Vol. II. I i fled, 



