THE SOURCE OF THE NILE tay 
fixty were left upon the field, all flain in the attack, for they 
were not purfued, but joined their main body immediate- 
ly. 
Ras Michael fell back upon the army, which had en- 
camped on the hill of Serbraxos ; and it now was believed 
more than before, that the fate of the empire was to be 
determined on that fpot. Another thing, however, appear- 
ed plain, that whatever belief Michael pretended in the 
prophecy, he would not have preferred fighting at Serbrax- 
os, if he could by any means have given the rebels the 
flip, and marched his army into Begemder. The king was 
exceedingly pleafed at the part he had taken that day ; it was 
the firft time he was engaged in perfon, nor did any body 
venture to condemn it; he fhewed, indeed, very little con- 
cern at his brother’s wound, which was only a flight one 
in the flefhy part of his thumb, nor did the young prince 
trouble himfelf much about it; on the contrary, when I 
went to drefs and bind it up, he faid to me, I with, Yagoube, 
the fhot had carried the thumb off altogether, it would have 
made me incapable of fucceeding to the throne, and they 
would not then fend me to the hill of Wechné. The king, 
- upon hearing this, faid with a fmile, George forgets that 
Hatzé Hannes, my father and his, was called to the throne 
many years after his whole hand had been cut off. Every 
one agreed that Ras Michael had that day fhewn a degree 
of intrepidity and military fkill fuperior to any thing which 
had appeared in many former engagements in which he 
had commanded. No fooner had he refrefhed himfelf 
with a meal, than he called a council of his officers, which 
lafted great part of the evening, notwithftanding. the fa- 
tigue he had undergone throughout the day. 
Vox. IV. | ay THIS 
