3T l TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



when he fpied occafion, he came fuddenly down and" fur- 

 prifed the enemy below. Among all the rude, high, and 

 tremendous mountains of which this country confift?, 

 there is one efpecially, called by the name of Lajla. It is in 

 the territory of Waag, llrongly furrounded with inacceflible 

 precipices, having a large plain on the top, abounding with 

 every thing necellary, and, watered by a. line ftream that, 

 never fails.. 



The manner in which, the Agows remained- fecure ihs 

 this ftrong poll was mifconltrued into fear by the king's ar* 

 my, which, in two divifions, advanced to the attack of tha 

 mountain. That on the right had with fome difficulty 

 fcrambled up without oppofition ; but, being now arrived to 

 the fteep part of the rock, fuch- a number of large ftones 

 was rolled down upon them, from above, that thisdivifion 

 of the army was entirely deftroyed. The number, of Hones 

 on the brink: of the precipices was inexhaustible ; and, once 

 put in motion, purfued the fcattered troops with unavoidable 

 fpeed, even down to the plains, below. Among the flain was- 

 Guebra Chriftos, tire king's fon-in-law, darned to pieces by 

 the fragment of a rock. The left divifion was upon the 

 point of fuffering the fame misfortune, had not Keba Chri-. 

 itos come to their relief and drawn them off, juft before the* 

 enemy had begun to. discharge this irrenflible artillery a*, 

 gainfl them. 



The king, thus Shamefully beaten, retired to Dancaz, lea* 

 ving the entrances from Lafta ftrongly defended, left thefe 

 mountaineers mould, by way of retaliation, fall upon the 

 province of Begemder. But the late ill- fortune had difpi- 

 jrited the troops, and caufed an indifference about duty, a 



want 



