142 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
chael, in the mean time, had, by the feigned retreat of his 
cavalry, decoyed the Begemder troops within reach of the ~ | 
mufquetry, and they were again put in diforder by the dif- 
charge on each fide of the hill, without being able to ad- 
vance a ftep further; after which he ordered fome tents to 
be pitched upon the hill on his right, as if cee tee en- 
camp there. * 
KasMATI AYABDAR, who commanded the left wing of the 
rebels, imagining that the whole army had advanced to the 
fouth of the valley with Ras Michael, thought this was an 
opportunity of furrounding the king’s troops, and cutting 
them off from their camp and ftrong poft upon the hill of 
Serbraxos ; with this intention he advanced rapidly to the 
ford of the river Mariam, thinking to take poft on the hill 
which was to our rear, being that of Serbraxos. When he 
advanced, however, near that river, and faw the king and 
his cavalry drawn up on the banks of it, his heart failed him, 
and he halted within a fhort quarter of a mile of our troops. i 
In order to decoy and make him more confident, Kefla Ya- | 
fous ordered the horfe to retreat and crofs the river as faft 
as they could, with an appearance of confufion, that he might 
draw their horfe within reach of our mufquetry planted up- | 
on every eminence. The king fhewed great reluctance at 
this maneeuvre, however wife. He repeated very peevifhly, 
What is this! What is this! Am] retiring before rebels?— 
Neither did this ftratagem fucceed but in part, for Ayabdar, 
either diftrufting the trap laid for him, or afraid to enter in- 
to ap engagement with the king, advanced but a few paces, 
and again halted, apparently not decided what he was to + 
. do. 
