THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 163 
to flay in the camp. I afterwards went to the king’s tent, 
who was not yet up; and the very inftant after, the Ras’s 
firft drum beat, and the king rofe ; foon after which, the 
fecond drum was heard for the foldiers to go to breakfaft. 
I went into the king’s tent to kifs his hand, and receive his 
orders. He told me they were fpeedily then going to break-, 
faft within, to which meal I was engaged at Ozoro Efther’s. 
He anfwered, Make hafte then, for I am refolved to be on 
the field before king Theodorus to-day. Iam his fenior, 
and fhould fhew him the example. He feemed more than 
ordinary gay and in fpirits. 
I FrnisHEeD my breakfaft im a few minutes, and took a 
grateful, but chearful leave of Ozoro Efther, and received 
many acknowledgements, and kind expreflions, both from 
her and Tecla Mariam, who did not fail to be there accord- 
ing to appointment. The day was clear, the fun warm, and 
the army defcended_ into the plain with great alacrity, in 
the fame order as the day before. Guebra Mafcal, with his 
mufqueteers, took pofleffion of the long hill in the valley, 
and coafted the left flank of our left wing, the river Ma- 
riam and its high banks being only between us. The king 
_ took his poft, with the winding road aforementioned (up 
the fteep banks of the Mariam) clofe on his left. Guebra 
Mafcal having come to the fouth end of the hill below, - 
marched brifkly up the road, and then advanced about 200 
yards, making his men lye down at the brink of the hill 
next the plain, among bent grafs, and thin tall fhrubs like 
Spanifh broom, fo as to be perfectly out of fight; his line 
was at right angles with our front, fo that his fire mutt 
enfilade the whole front of our line. 
X 2 | Tr 
