chael, in the mean time, had, by the feigned retreat o f his
cavalry, decoyed the Begemder troops within reach o f the
mufquetry, and they were again put in diforder by the dif-
charge on each fide o f the hill, without being able to advance
a ftep further; after which he ordered fome tents to
be pitched upon the hill-on his right, as i f intending to encamp
there.
K a s m a t i A y a b d a r , who commanded the left w ing o f the
rebels, imagining that the whole army had advanced to the
fouth o f the valley with Ras Michael, thought this was an
opportunity o f furrounding the k in g ’s- troops, and cutting
them o ff firdlü their camp and ftrong poll upon the hill o f
Serbraxos ; with this intention he advanced rapidly to the
ford o f the river Mariam, thinking to take poll on the hill
which was to our rear, being that-of Serbraxos. When he
advanced, however, near that river, and faw the k in g and
his cavalry drawn up on the banks o f it, his heart failed him,
and he halted within a fliort quarter o f a mile o f our troops.
In order to decoy and make him more confident, Kefla Ya-
fous ordered the horfe to retreat and crofs the river as faft
as they could, with an appearance o f confufion, that he might
draw their horfe w ithin reach o f our mufquetry planted upon
every eminence. The k in g fhewed great reluftance at
this manoeuvre, however wife. He repeated very peeviihly,
What is this ! What is this ! Am I retiring before rebels?—
Neither did this ftratagem fucceed but in part, for Ayabdar,
either diftrufting the trap laid for him, or afraid to enter into
an engagement with the king, advanced but a few paces,
and again halted, apparently not decided what he was to
do.
T he
T he Edjow Galla. alone advanced to the very brink o f the
river, -and when the mufquetry began to be fired at them
which would probably quickly have put them into eonfu-
n> the kmS> lofing all patience, ordered the black horfe
and all the heavy-armed troops, to charge them, which
Was inftantly executed with the greateft fpeed; the Galla
were all borne down, with little or no refiftapce by
the length o f our pikes, and the fuperior weight o f ’ our
horfes, and thofe that were not flain were fcattered over the
plain. But a greater misfortune befel us from our friends
than from our enemies, as a volley o f ihot was poured upon
us from Serbraxos hill, on the right hand, which killed
ieven men, notwithftanding their coats o f mail. The k in g
h im ie lf was in great danger, being in the middle o f the engagement,
and unarmed; young prince George, who
fought by his fide, was ihot in the thumb o f his left
hand. Kefla Yafous, who faw the danger the k in g was in
riding about, holding out his hand and crying not to fire*
was ihot through the hair, the ball juft grazing his . head
above the ear, and another wounding his horfe juft above
his thigh, but fo flightly, that it was afterwards extracted
by a fervant’s fingers-
A y a b d a r , after the lofs o f his Edjbw Galla, retreated ti*
the Camp, amidft the curfes and imprecations o f the army
who not informed o f the k in g ’s ftrength, thought the w a r
m ig t have been ended by a proper exertion and perfeve-
rance m his part that day. Guiho his nephew, who had
to guard the camp, but who had reinforced. Powufien
and Ayabdar each o f them with a part o f his troops, fpoke-
o f his uncle in the bittereft terms o f reproach, contmually
calling him dotard and coward, and declaring him incapable