460 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
of Fafil’s being near at hand; he likewife directed the Fit 
Auraris to advance cautioufly till he had feen Fafil, and to. 
-purfue no party that fhould retreat before him. 
Tue King, the Ras, and the whole army, began to be in: 
pain for Kefla Yafous; and we fhould have changed our ~ 
ground, and marched forward immediately, had we not 
heard the alarm-guns fired by Fit-Auraris Netcho,. and pre- 
fently he and his party came in, the men running, and the 
horfes at full gallop. Ras Michael had given his orders, 
and returned to the prefence of the king on his mule; he 
could not venture among horfe, being wounded in the 
middle of the thigh, and lame in that leg, but always char- 
gedon a mule among themufquetry. He faid fhortly to the 
king, “No fear, Sir, ftand firm; Fafil is loft if he fights to-- 
day on this ground.” 
Fasin appeared at the top of the hill. I have no guefs about 
the number of fuch large bodies of troops, but, by thofe more 
ufed to fuch computations, it is faid he had about 3000 
horfe. It was a fine fight, bur the evening was beginning 
to be overcaft.. After having taken a full- view of the army, 
they all began to move flowly down. the hill,, beating their 
kettle-drums. There were two trees a little before the ca- 
valry, that were advanced beyond our front. Fafil fent down: 
a party to fkirmifh with thefe, and he himfelf halted after 
having made a few paces down the hill. The two bodies. 
of horfe met juft half way at the two trees, and mingled 
together, as appeared at leaft, with very decifive intention ; 
but whether it was by orders or from fear, (for they were . 
got overmatched in numbers) our horfe turned their backs 
and came precipitately down, fo that we were afraid they 
I would. 
