120 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
rally in enterprifes, and growing every day:more and more 
into reputation. 
Ir is impoffible fo much as'to guefs:at the number of the 
enemy, they were always very numerous, but conftantly 
changing. It was faid, that Begemder and Lafta had at one 
time 30,000 horfemen ; I fhould believe this number greatly 
exaggerated, from what I heard afterwards; and that the 
~ whole cavalry in their army did not exceed what it was at the 
battle of Serbraxos. 1 fuppofe indeed, that, together with their 
foot, they did not much exceed that number, tho’ they were 
at times magnified to 50 and 60,000, moft of them very bad 
troops, continually deferting, excepting about 4000 men be- 
longing to Gufho, from Amhara, who likewife brought 
about roo match-locks, and befides thefe there were fcarce- 
ly any in the rebel army. I mutt nor, however, forget 200 
horfemen,Edjow Galla, fervants and relations of the late king 
Joas, who behaved in the moft gallant and undaunted man- 
ner, and upon all occafions fet a noble example to the reft of 
the army. 
‘Ras Micnuatx himfelf led the van; the king the center, 
with Guebra Mafcal,and a confiderable body of mufqueteers 
of Tigré; he had no horfe but thofe of his own houfehold. 
The rear was commanded by Welleta Michael, and Tecla: 
how difpofed, or of what troops conftituted I know not, for 
the front, center, and rear were underftood to march 
in order, but it was often impoflible to difcern any fuch di- 
vifions ; we were often all in confufion, fometimes we were 
in the middle of the front, fometimes joined and mixed | 
with the rear; all our officers had left their command, and 
wvere crowding about Ras Michael and the king; women ~ 
2 _. bearing 
