176 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
begun to require fatisfaction for the blood of the late king 
Joas, in the fhedding of which thefe two were particularly 
concerned. Among the flain were our friends the Baharna- 
gafh and his fon, who died valiantly fighting before the 
king at the time he efcaped down the bank into the val- 
ley. . 
‘Bur what ferved as comfort to the king, was the ftill 
heavier lofs fuftained by the enemy, who, by their own ac- 
counts that day, loft above gooo men, feven thoufand of 
whom were from the troops of Begemder and Lafta, with 
which the king was engaged. For my own part, I cannot 
believe, but that both thefe accounts are much exaggerated 5 
the great proportion that died of thofe that were wounded 
muft have greatly {welled the lofs of the rebels, becaufe 
moft gun-fhot wounds, efpecially if bones are broken, mor- 
tify.and prove mortal. Among the flain, on the part of Be- 
gemder, were two chiefs of Latta, and two relations of Po- 
wullen, (a brother-in-law and his fon) they were both fhot, 
bearing the banner of king Theodorus. The unworthy 
Confu, brother to Guebra Mehedin, and nephew to the Ite- 
ghé, whom I have often mentioned, had efcaped, indeed, 
from Kafmati Ayabdar, who had given orders to confine him, 
to die a rebel this day among the troops of Begemder, 
_ Tue king being wafhed and dreffed, and having dined, 
zeceived a compliment from Ras Michael, who fent him a 
prefent of fruit, and a thoufand ounces of gold. There be- 
gan then the filthieft of all ceremonies that ever difgraced 
any nation filing themfelves Chriftians ; a ceremony that 
cannot be put in terms fufficiently decent for modeft ears, 
without adapting the chafte language of fcripture, which, 
ot "when 
