278 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER . 



king's character was eftablifhed, and nothing more could 

 be added to it. However that may be, all turned to the dis- 

 advantage of the Galla. No general or other officer thought 

 himfelf entitled to fpare his perfon more than the king; all 

 fought like common foldiers; and, being the men belt arm- 

 ed and mounted, and moil experienced in the field, they con- 

 tributed in proportion to the daughter of the day. About 

 12,000 men on the part of the Galla were killed upon the 

 fpot ; the very few that remained were deftroyed by the 

 peafants, whilft 400 men only fell on the part of the king, 

 fo it was a malTacre rather than a battle. 



Socinios now refolved to try his fortune againfl the im- 

 poftor Jacob, and with that refolution he crofted Lamal- 

 mon, defc ending to the Tacazze in his way to Sire. Here, 

 as on the frontiers of his province, he was met by Sela Chri- 

 ftos, who brought Peter Paez along with them. Both were 

 kindly received by the king, who encamped in the large 

 plain before Axum, in confequence of a refolution he had 

 long taken of being crowned with all the ancient ceremo- 

 nies ufed on this occafion by former kings, while the royal 

 refidence was in the province of Tigre. 



It was on the 18th of March, according to their account, 

 the day of our Saviour's firft coming to Jerufalem, that this 

 feftival began. His army confifted of about 30,000 men. 

 All the great officers, all the officers of ftate, and the court 

 then prefent, were every man drefTed in the richeft and gay- 

 eft manner. Nor was the other fex behind -hand in the 

 fplendour of their appearance. The king, drefTed in crimfon 

 damafk, with a great chain of gold round his neck, his head 

 bare, mounted upon a horfe richly caparifoned, advanced 



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