£40 ‘TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
appearance of running us down; and part of them forced 
themfelves through, regardlefs of us all, whilft others turn- 
ed fouth to efcape acrofs the plain. 
Tue king and Ras Michael were in the moft violent agi- 
tation of mind: though the caufe was before their eyes, yet 
the word went about that Woodage Afahel had attacked the 
army; and this occafioned a great panic and diforder, for 
everybody was convinced with reafon that he was not far 
off. The firing, however, continued, the balls flew about in 
every direction, fome few were killed, and many people and 
horfes were hurt; ftill they fired, and Ras Michael, at the 
‘door of his tent, crying, threatening, and tearing his grey 
locks, found, for a few minutes, the army was not under 
his command. At this inftant, Kafmati Netcho, whofe Fit- 
Auraris had fallen back on his front, ordered his kettle- 
drums, to be beat before he arrived in the king’s pre- 
fence; and this being heard, without it being known ge- 
nerally who we were, occafioned another panic; great part 
of the army believed that Powuflen and Gufho were now 
at hand to keep their appointment with Fafil, and that Net- 
cho and I were his Fit-Auraris. The king ordered his tent 
to be pitched, his ftandard to be fet up, his drums to beat, 
(the fignal for encamping) and the firing immediately cea- 
fed. But it was a long while before all the army could 
believe that Woodage Afahel had not been engaged with 
fome part of it that day. Happily, if near at hand, he did 
not lay hold of this favourable opportunity ; for I am con- 
winced, if, juft before our arrival, he had attacked Michael on © 
‘the Samfeen fide, with 500 horfe, our whole army had fled 
_ avithout refiftance, and difperfed all over the country, 
2 “HERE 
