his .poll in the town, as well as for his fighting without:
his orders. Confu, with great fubmiflion and addrefs at
the fame time, excufed his leaving his poft, from the repeated
information he had received that a decifive battle was.
to be fought that day, and knowing the Ras’s want o f
horfe, he could not flay at Gondar, and keep his idle, when
the Tate o f fo kin d a father, (as the Ras had been) and that
o f a mother, to whom he owed every thing, was depending.
He faid it would be more agreeable to him to die by
the hands o f the executioner o f the camp, as an example
for difobedience o f orders, than furvive with the refieriion
that he had been voluntarily abfent from fuch an occafion.
As for engaging with Afahel Woodage that day, he faid he
had no intention o f that k in d ; that he knew not who he
was when h e attacked him, and only endeavoured to- hinde
r him from harrafling the rear o f the army, and deftroy-
in g the provi-fions ; That when he charged him firft, Woodage
was among the women, loaded with bouza, flour,.and
fpirits,, which were coming to the Ras, and great part o f
which he had intercepted, as the Ras would find. Michael
could not help laughing at this laft part o f the excufe, but
went away, and, in his converfation that evening, gave Confu
the higheft praifes for his conduit and bravery, but
faid nothing o f his fault.
E n g e d a n was next arraigned for fighting without orders.
He, too, anfwered with great humility, That when he faw
the infantry run down the hill, with their matches lighted,
he thought it was the Ras’s intention to relieve Confu by
the moft effectual means poffible; but at any rate he could
never, with arms in his hands, ftand looking on, while his
couiin-german and companion was maflacred by Galla.
4 . AU
AH ended well The truth is, Michael never w ould find fau lt
i a man that fought, however imprudently he fought
tererl t f t ’ }” * * t(>llilnin P1* « o f charity ; it covered
a multitude o f fins.
, ° ;ORO X S tfi 1 the deePeft concern, had attended her
fon from the moment of his arrival, and had feen h i
A ^ ^ ^ l u n d
(fuch as his was) frightens ignorant people more than the-
fmall onfice made by a fhot, w hich breaks bones and endangers
life. Such was Ozoro Eflher’s apprehenfion • and
every minute fhe inquired: o f me i f I thought it was polfle
l t off°h r CcVer' 1 ^ad not quitted him fince h e T d
g off his horfe.. I advifed him by all means to go in a;
litter to Gondar, either carried by men or mules; but no
peifuafion nor confideration, would induce him to go o -
fey hirn^6 C ort a mule> with his hoffe harneffed and led
E w thing was accordingly prepared; when I received a-
meffage from the Ras to wait upon him. I immed lte lv
went to his tent, and found him with two dw a r f b ^ s oMy
who were fanning the flies from his face. “ O zo roE fth e i
wiflies, fays he, that you would fee Confu fafe to Gondar
and b n n g u s word to-morrow how he is ; and you m uft flay"
fever, faid I, he is in no danger. I f the k in g and yoii”- H e
then interrupted m e ,-« The king, andT, and every one
w ah"enrd COnfU'” 1 b°Wed; aDd WeBt
“ Don’t T a" S h g0t f° the d0° r he cried ^ e r me
Don t be afraid, you will be in time enough to fee every
th in g i