THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 175 
I fear it may be ftill too juftly charged. I therefore fhall 
only fay for connection’s fake, that Gufho and Guebra Chri- 
ftos, in the center, were but partially engaged, and Kafmati 
Tesfos of Siré, fecond commander for the king, in that di- 
vifion, wounded, andtaken prifoner.- Guebra Chriftos, the 
king’s uncle, was flain, (as it was believed) by a fhot of his 
own men; few other lives of note were loft on either fide, 
in that divifion. The king’s troops fell back under the hill 
of Serbraxos, where Michael was, and, though followed by 
Gutho, were no further attacked by him. But on the right, 
Billetana Gueta Tecla, and Welleta Michael, after a very ob- 
ftinate and bloody engagement, were beaten by Kafmati . 
Ayabdar, and forced acrofs the river Mogetch, where, ha- 
ving rallied and pofted themfelves ftrongly, it was not 
thought proper to attempt to force them, and they all join- 
ed the camp foon after the king, but with very great lofs. 
Tuts battle, though it was rather a victory than a defeat, 
had, however, upon the king’s affairs, all the bad confe- 
quences of the latter,nor was there any thinking man who 
had confidence in them from that day forward. Near 
3000 men perifhed on the king’s fide, a great proporticn of 
whom was of the left wing, which he commanded; near 
180 young men, of the greateft hopes and nobleft families 
in the kingdom, were among that number; Guebra 
Chriftos was in all refpects a truly national lofs.. Kefla Ya- 
fous was twice wounded, but not dangeroufly, befides a 
multitude of others of the firft rank, among whom was Ayto 
Engedan, who by proper care foon recovered alfo, but in 
the mean time was fent to Gondar, to his coufin Ayto Core. 
fu. On our fide, too, a fon of Lika Netcho, and a fon of Ne- 
brit Tecla, were both flain.—Providence feemed now to have 
begun 
