my interceffion, and that o f thofe about him, he was pardoned,
and the drunkard’s faih was returned,to him.
Ever fince the middle o f February, Ras Michael had re-
folved to march put, and give battle to the rebels encamped
about Korreya, committing every fort o f violence, and
burning all the villages, houfes, and barns in- Dembea,
w ith the corn they contained more than what ferved fo r
their prefent ufe; but the great fuperiority o f the enemy
in horfe had always made him delay his intention.
Y asins had, indeed, fucceeded in his commrffion to Sen-
naar, as far as it regarded the hories. He had found the
Arabs encamped immediately upon the frontier at Ras e l
Feel, and had received from them very near 200 o f one
Rind or other, o f which 76 only aafwered the purpofe o f
mounting the k in g ’s black fervants the others were dif-
tributed among the reft o f the army that wanted them. But
they had not been equally fuccefsful in purchafing their
coats o f mail, fourteen only o f which had been brought
with the horfes. In order to buy the reft, the meffenger continued
bis journey to Sennaar, and with him m y Servant So-
liman with my letters, to which, o f confequence, I had as.
yet no return. But what appeared at that time moft materia
l to me, Fidele Shekh o f Atbara wrote to Yafine, “ Tha t,
there was no fear but thgu I fhould be w e ll received at Sen-
naar, w here Naffer, a young k in g , had fucceeded bis father;,
whom he had depofed; but that the great difficulty was
to pals between Ras el Feel and Teawa, the place o f his refi-
dence, -and from thence to the banks, o f the river Dender,
for that the Ganjar horfe o f Kuara, and the Arabs their
friends, were at war with the Arabs o f Atbara, and had;
burnt
burnt all their crops and villages: that he fometimes did not
think himfelf fafe in Teawa, and that a load o f fait had not
been fuffered to pafs for feveral months ; which, indeed, was
the reafon w hy the Arabs o f Atbara were come fo ne.ar Ras
el Feel, and that the k in g ’s horfe were procured fo readily
at the firft coming.” This traitor, however, added, “ That
if, b y any means, I could advance to him at Teawa, I need
not take any thought about the reft o f the journey ; and
that it was better I fliould Come quietly and quickly, without
writing to Sennaar before-hand : and he concluded with
great profeffions o f refpeét and friendffiip for me.”
It had been very cold, and more than ufual rainy, Cnee
the beginning o f February ; the 9 th was a day o f clofe rain |
and this, being earlier than common, very much difcou-
raged the foldiers who wère naked, and, therefore; very fen-
iible o f cold, or rain, and, as I have before faid, never can be
brought to engage willin gly, unlefs under, the influence o f
a warm fun.
A t laft the cries o f the people flying into Gondar, feek*
■ in g protection from the cruelties o f the rebels, determined
the Ras to march out, and fet his all upon the fortune o f a
battle. The riik was not thought great, as he had beén all his
life in ufe to conquer ; had a better army at that time than
ever he commanded; the Begemder troops, too, in whom the
rebels trufted moft, were but thofe which he and his men
had beaten at Nefas Multi, although led by a very brave
and valiant officer, Mariam Barea. All this was true ; but
then, fince that period, thefe troops o f Begemder had been
conftantly led by himfelf, had been trained, and difciplined
w ith the old troops o f Tigré, and taught to conquer with
P a therm