758 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER ~ 
Hap I been commander of the Begemder troops that day, 
this fhower fhould have been the fignal of charging; for 
all the king’s fire-arms were ufelefs, and the matches wet ; 
but the Begemder horfe feemed moft uneafy under the fall 
of rain; they began to be unmanageable, and turn tail to the 
wind, which now:arofe and was directly in their faces, and 
in a few minutes they wheeled about, and retired to their 
camp. The king halted on the ground where he was, or- 
dered the kettle-drums to beat, and the trumpets to found; 
and having continued half an hour till the heavy fhower 
began, he fell back as did the whole army, and retired to 
the camp. Whenhe got up the hill, and pafled the brow 
where Ras Michael was fitting with fome flaves, who held 
up a piece of fail-cloth over his head to keep off the rain, 
the fervants raifed the Ras upon his feet; without any pre- 
vious falutation, he then afked the king what he had done 
with king Theodorus? and was anfwered, “ Begemder 
brought him, and Begemder took him away, we faw no- 
thing but his flag.” Lafta carried his flag, fays one of the 
nobility. He is apeaceable prince, fays the king; yet he. 
begins with fighting, but he will make amends afterwards, 
if he governs this country in peace athoufand years. If 
he does that, fays the Ras, Powuffen is to die at the next 
battle, for the thoufand years peace will never begin, as 
Jong as he is alive. 
CHAP. 
. 
ne See ee a ne ee ee 
3 * 
ah i is lit = Se 
oe en ee ee a ee 
