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THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 123 
We had not encamped long, before the rear came in 
fight. Confu, fon of Ozoro Efther, whom the Ras had left 
to guard Gondar, hearing how near the enemy was, and 
the probability of a battle that day, had left his poft, and 
joined Yafine, with the horfe of Ras el Feel, that were in 
the rear; foon after this junction, Afahel Woodage, with 
about 4oo men, partly Edjow Galla, (the late king Joas’s 
houfehold) partly Maitfha, came up from the Dembea fide 
of the lake Tzana, and began to harrafs the rear, marching 
in great confufion. Confu, though fomething fuperior in 
number, was thought to be inferior in the goodnefs of 
troops by much more than the difference; but the event 
_ proved the contrary, for he charged Woodage Afahel fo for- 
cibly, that he obliged him to quit our rear, and retire acrofs 
the plain at a pace, which if nota flight, did very much re- 
femble it. Ayto Confu prefled vigoroufly upon him, till, 
being now clear of the reft of the army, and in the fair 
open plain, Woodage wheeled fhortly about, and fhewed 
by his countenance that it was not to avoid Ayto Confu, 
but Ras Michael’s mufquetry, that he retreated to a greater 
diftance ; both fides flopt to breathe their horfes for fome 
minutes; but it was plain afterwards, Afahel Woodage, an 
old foldier, trufted much to the known valour of his troops, 
and wifhed to {trike a blow of confequence in prefence of 
his old enemy the Ras, 
Ras Micwary was at the door of his tent then playing at 
dams, or drafts, as was his cuftom, and Ozoro Efther was 
trembling to fee her fon on the point of being furrounded 
by mercilefs Galla, the nation who mof of all the detefted, 
and who had every caufe to hate her. All the young men, 
{Confu’s friends) with their lances in their hands, and rea- 
Q.2 dy 
