S3 e TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



appointed feveral officers that were moll needed, in the 

 army, the provinces, and about his perfon. During his ftay 

 here, news were brought that Dermin had followed him 

 Hep by ftep in the very track he had marched, and laid the 

 whole country wafte that h^d fhewn him any countenance 

 or favour. Amda Sion's heart feemed to fail him upon this ; 

 for he left Dingleber, crofted the ford at Delakus, and en- 

 deavoured to pafs Dermin, by keeping on the weft fide of 

 the Nile, and on the low road by which he returned, to 

 Ibaba. 



Dermin, well-informed as to his motions, and perfectly 

 inftructed in the fituation of the country, inftead of palling, 

 him, turned Ihort upon his front, crofting the Nile at Fagit- 

 ta, and forced him to an engagement in the plain country 

 of Maitlha. The battle, though it was obftinately fought 

 by the rebels, ended in a complete victory in favour of the 

 king. Thofe among the rebels who moft diftinguilhed 

 themfelves were the banilhed monks, the greateft part of 

 whom were llain lighting defperately. , Among thefe, were 

 Abba Welleta Chriftos, Tobias and his brother Abba Nicolaus, 

 who had been ringleaders in the late religious difputes in 

 the time of Yafous, and were now chiefs of the rebellion a-, 

 gainft his fon. , 



The greateft part of the lofs fell upon the common men 

 of Gojam, of the clans Elmana and Denfa. No man of 

 note among them was loft; only Amda Sion, who fell at 

 their head in the beginning of the engagement, lighting 

 with all the bravery that could be expected from a man in; 

 iiis circumftances, The rebel army was entirely difperfed. [. 



Oa_ 



