TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
85 
marched to meet them, and a great battle took 
place at Serbraxos, in which, though he claimed 
the victory, he sustained so immense a loss of of- 
ficers and men, as made him soon unable to make 
head against the increasing power of the enemy. 
He retreated upon Gondar \ and retreat, to an un- 
disciplined army, is the sure forerunner of dis- 
persion. The confederates marched to the capi- 
tal, which they quickly subdued, and reduced Mi- 
chael to the state of a prisoner. Mr Bruce now 
felt his stay more than ever irksome ; he therefore 
solicited, and at length obtained, permission to depart. 
Our traveller had determined to return home- 
wards by the route of Sennaar and Nubia. This 
introduced a new region to his view ; but it was 
accompanied with dangers which were very formi- 
dable. The first which he encountered were at 
Teawa, the residence of Fedaile, Shekh of Atbara. 
That chief had transmitted the most ample pro- 
mises of favour and protection, but with the de- 
termination of following an entirely opposite 
course. Soon after the arrival of the party, he 
sent a peremptory demand for a large sum of 
money. This being refused, he immediately with- 
held every accommodation for their journey, 
and soon after evinced his intention of attack- 
ing them by open force. Mr Bruce, with his 
little band, was for some time kept in a state 
of siege ; but their resolution, and superior skill 
in fire arms, enabled them to set the chief at de- 
