374 TRAVELS TO.DISCOVER 
ing it open to be pofleffed by his countrymen, the Galla, 
from Bizamo. 
A very obftinate battle was fought at Banja, one of their 
principal fettlements, in which the Agows were entirely 
defeated, feven of their chiefs killed, all men of great confe- 
quence, among whom was Ayamico, a very near relation 
of the king. The news were firft brought by a fon of 
Nanna Georgis, chief of the Agows, who efcaped from the 
battle. Michael was at dinner, and I was prefent. It was 
one of his caroufals for the marriage of Powuffen, when 
young Georgis came into the room, in a torn and dirty 
habit, unattended, and almoft unperceived, and prefented 
himfelf at the foot of the table. Michael had then in his 
hand a cup of gold, it being the exclufive privilege of the 
governor of the province of ligré to drink out of fuch a 
cup ; it was full of wine; before a word was {poke, and, upon 
the firft appearance of ne man, he threw the cup and wine 
upon the ground, and cried out, I am guilty of the death of 
thefe people. Every one arofe, the table was removed, and 
Georgis told his misfortune, that Nanna Georgis his father, 
Zeegam Georgis, the next in rank among them, Ayamico the 
king’s relation, and four other chiefs, were flain at Banja, and 
their race nearly extirpated by a victory gained with much 
bloodfhed, and after cruelly purfued in retaliation for that 
of Fagitta. 
A couNcIL was immediately called, where it was refol- 
ved, that, though the rainy feafon was at hand, the utmoft 
expedition fhould be made to take the field ; that Gufho and 
Powufien fhould return to their provinces, and increafe 
their army to the urmoilt of their power; that the king 
fhould 
