THE SOURCE OF THENILE. 257 



they came up with Socinios in Begemder. Jacob advanced 

 fo near him that his tent could be diltinctly feen from that 

 of Socinios, and, on the morrow, Jacob and Za SelafTe, draw- 

 ing up their armies, offered Socinios battle. 



That wife prince faw too well that he was overmatched ; 

 and, though he defired a battle as much as Jacob, it was not 

 upon fuch terms as the prefent. He declined it, and kept 

 hovering about them as near as poffible on the heights and 

 uneven ground, where he could not be- forced to fight till 

 it perfectly fuited his own intereft* 



This refufal on the part of Socinios did but increafe Za 

 SelaiTe's pride. He defpifed Jacob as a general, and thought 

 that Socinios declining battle was owing only to the ap- 

 prehenfion he had of his prefence, courage, and abilities. 

 He continued parading with the feparate army, perfectly 

 intoxicated with confidence and an imaginary fuperiority, 

 neglecting all the wholefome rules of war rigidly adhered 

 to by great generals for the fake of difcipline, however di- 

 stant they may be from their enemy. 



It was not long before this was told Socinios, who foon 

 faw his advantage in it, and thereupon refolved to fight Za 

 SelafTe fingly, and watch attentively till he fhould find him 

 as far as poffible from Jacob. Nor did he long wait for the 

 occafion ; for Za SelafTe, attempting to lead his army through 

 very uneven and ftony ground, called the Pafs of Mount De- 

 fer, and at a confiderable diflance from Jacob, Socinios at^ 

 tacked him while in the pafs fo rudely* that his army, en- 

 tangled in broken and unknown ground, was furrounded 

 and almofl cut to pieces. Za SelafTe, with a few followers, 



Vol. II. K k faved 



