THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 679 



thin and fragil, and are called brulhe. Mariam Barea, 

 provoked at being fo undervalued as he was in the king's 

 menage, returned only for anfwer, " Still the king had bet- 

 " ter take my advice, and not fend his brulhis here ; they 

 " are but weak, and the rocks about Begemder hard ; at 

 ft any rate, they do right to move flowly, otherwife they 

 Pi might break by the way." 



As foon as this defiance was reported to the king and his 

 counfellors all was in a flame, and orders given to march im- 

 mediately. The whole of the king's houfehold, confining of 

 8000 veteran troops, were ordered to join the army of Brulhe. 

 This, tho' it added to the difplay of the army, contributed no- 

 thing to the reaiftrength of it ; for all, excepting the Gal- 

 la, were refolved neither to fried their own blood nor that 

 of their brethren, .under the banners of £0 deteiled a leader. 



This was not unknown to Mariam Barea ; but neither 

 the advantage of the ground, the knowledge of Brume's 

 weaknefs, nor any other coniideration, could induce him. 

 to take one flep, or harrafs his enemy, out of his own pro- 

 vince ; nor did he fuffer a mufket to be fired, or a horfe to 

 charge, till Brulhe's van was drawn up on the brink , of the 

 well Fernay. After he had placed the horfe of the province 

 of Lafta oppofite to the Edjow Galla, againft whom his de- 

 fign was, the armies joined, and the king's troops immediately 

 gave way. The Edjow, however, engaged fiercely and in . 

 great earneft with the horfe of Lafta, an enemy fully as 

 cruel and favage as themfelves, but much better horfe- 

 men, better armed, and better foldiers. The moment the 

 king's troops turned their back?, the trumpets from Ma- 

 dam Barea's army forbade the purfuit ; while the reft of the 



2 Begemder 



