THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 157 
fight, being down nearer the lake. Nar is it to be under- 
ftood that I mean here to give any account of their move- 
ments, or of any other, unlefs thofe of the left wing under 
the king, where I was myfelf engaged. 
SEVERAL {pies came into Ras Michael at this time, and 
they, and the horfemen that had been fent on the fervice, 
all agreed, that in the center of the Begemder horfe a large 
red ftandard was difplayed, with a number of kettle drums 
beating before it, which the Ras no fooner heard, than gi- 
ving his draft-board a kick with his foot, he overturned 
the whole game, and afforded, at leaft, a bad omen of 
the future engagement. He then called for Kefla Yafous, 
and Guebra Mafcal, and having conferred with them both, 
he detatched Guebra Mafcal with five hundred mufqueteers 
to take poffeffion of the hill in the valley below, and 
coaft along the left flank of our left without appearing in 
fight. . 
Tue day had been exceeding clofe, feeming to threaten 
- violent thunder, and we were now come fo near as to fee 
diftin€tly the large red ftandard, which being pointed out 
to the king, he faid, fmiling with a very chearful-coun: 
tenance, “ Aye, aye, now we fhall foon fee what mira- 
ele king Theodorus will work.” The clouds had been ga- 
thering ever fince we went down the hill, and fome big 
drops of rain had fallen. The foldiers were now covering 
their lighted matches, for fear of more, when firft a moft 
violent fiorm of thunder, lightening, and rain began, then 
~ a tempeit of rain and wind, and laft a dead calm, with tuch 
a heavy fhower that I fcarce ever faw the like even in the 
rainy feafon,. 
Elam 
