52 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
Ir was the 17th of May, at night, the attempt had been 
made on the Ras’s life; and the 18th was {pent in excom- 
munication before the Abuna ; and, in the evening, Michael 
received intelligence, that Ayto Tesfos, from the mountains 
of Samen, and Heraclius and Samuel Mammo, from Wal- 
kayt and Tzegadé, were both preparing to join the rebels 
with a confiderable force. We were now arrived at the fa- 
tal field of Serbraxos,as we had endeavoured to pafs it, but 
in vain; nothing now remained but to try to which fide 
the devil (the father of lies) had been forced to tell the 
truth, or whether he had yet told it to either. Darion, a 
principal man of Beleffen, and Guigarr of Lafta, joined the 
Ras’s army about noon, bringing with them 1200 men, chief- 
ly horfemen, good troops, and they were joyfully received, 
A councit was held with all the great officers that eve- 
ning, and the order of battle fixed upon for next day. Kef- 
ja Yafous, with the beft of the foot from Tigré, with the 
king’s houfehold troops, the Shoa horfe, and the Moors of Ras 
el Feel, with their libds, (in all not amounting to 10,000 
men, but the flower of the army} compofed the left wing, 
in the center of which was the king in perfon, the heavy- 
armed black horfe before him, and the officers and nobi- 
lity furrounding him: Guebra Chriftos,and Kafmati Tesfos 
of Siré, commanded the center, in which was Darion and 
Guigarr’s cavalry, for the Lafta men, though of different 
fides, could never be prevailed upon to fight againft one 
another, fo inftead of being with the king againft Begemder 
and Lafta, they were placed in the center againft Gufho and 
Amhara. The right of the king’s army was commanded 
by Welleta Michael and Billetana Gueta Tecla, oppofed to 
the left wing of the rebels under Kafmati Ayabdar, who 
ey) had 
