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THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 135 
engagement happened pretty much in the fame place and 
manner as that with Woodage Afahel and Ayto Confu, in 
full view of the camp, and affliftance was fent on both fides 
to the refpective parties. The troops commanded by Aylo, 
- brother of Engedan, and Guebra Mafcal, were beaten back 
almoft clofe to the camp, by the horfe led by the Edjow Gal- 
la, though brave and veteran foldiers, while Ras Michael 
ordered Yafine and his 200 from Ras el Feel, (all with their 
libds on) to charge the Galla, now advanced very near. 
Each horfe had a number of brafs bells at his neck, and 
they no fooner appeared than the whole cavalry of the ene- 
my, ftarting at the hideous figure and noife, fell into con- 
fufion, and, being clofely prefled with violent blows of their 
great {words, no longer difputed the ground, but left the 
field on the gallop. A beautiful grey horfe of Gufho’s, fu- 
perbly ornamented with gold and filver, and having a very 
rich broad-{word hanging at his faddle, and a pole-ax on 
the other fide under the furcingle, was taken by fome fol. 
diers of Ras el Feel, who fpread the report inftantly that 
Gutfho was flain. Immediately on this, orders were given 
for the whole army to defcend into the plain, which they 
did with great alacrity, forming in order of battle, though 
neither the king nor Ras Michael left the camp, nor did 
any adverfary appear; and the troops, content with this 
bravado, returned again in great {pirits to the camp.. 
Tuis is the account I heard of that day’s fkirmith, for I 
was not prefent there, being at Gondar with Ayto Confu. 
In the evening of that very day arrived a meflenger from 
Gutho, telling Ras Michael, that a young boy, a nephew of 
his, had, without his knowledge, gone to fee the engage- 
ment, and had taken with him his favourite horfe, who, 
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