her o f troops glide below u n fe n , along the river in the
valley, take poileffion o f the round hill, at the north ford o f
Mariam, and cut off our retreat to our camp at Serhraxbs;
the Ras immediately difpatched fome lingle horfemen to
take a view o f the enemy more nearly, and report whatr
their numbers were, and where Guiho and Ayabdar were
pofted, for we could diftinguifh the colour o f the horfes,
and all the movements o f the Begemder troops, not being
m u ch above three miles diftance, yet we did not know whether
they were alone, o r whether one or more o f the other generals
were with them : we faw indeed Powullen’s llandards,
but they were fo weather-beaten and faded, that we could not
diftinguifh their real colours, which were b lue and yellow.
T he k in g ’s whole army was d e fen d in g into the valley,
and palling over the ford o f the Mariam, to the plain above
where Kefla Yafous was riding to and fro with great ear-
neftnefs, encouraging his troops. In a . very ihort time the
left was formed ; the Ras, having given all his orders, and
taken to himfe lf the charge o f the camp and the referve, fat
down, as was ufual, to play at drafts with the black fervants.:
The army was now all in the plain, when the fcouts arrived,
and brought word that Gulho and Ayabdar had both
taken their ground, not direftly in a flraight line from. Po-
wuffen, fquare with the lake, but as it were diagonally declining
more to the fouthward, fo that the moft advanced, or
neareft to us, were the troops o f Begemder; and this was
probably done, in order that, our backs being more turned
to the lake, we might be ealier cut off from our camp, and
furrounded in the plain, between their army and the Tzana,
i f Powuffen was fo fortunate as to beat the k in g and the'
left 'x but this difpolition o f thefe troops was out o f our
fight,:
% h t , being down nearer the lake. Nor is it to be under-
that 1 mean heFe to give any account o f their movements,
or o f any-other, uniefs thofe o f the left wing un d e r
the king, where I was royfelf engaged.
. came into Ras Michael at this time, and
they, and the horfemen that had heen fen to n the fervice
a l l agreed, that m the center 6f the Begemder horfc a la rg e
red ftandard was difplayed, w ith a number o f kettle drums
beating before it, which the Ras no looner heard, than giving
his draft-board a k ick with his foot, he overturned
the whole game, and afforded, at ieaft, a bad . omen -of
the future engagement. He then called for Kefla Yafous,
and Guebra Mafca!, and having conferred with them both
he detatched Guebra Mafcal w ith five hundred mufquetcers
to take poffeflion o f the hill in the valley below, and
figh t/ ° flank o f our left without appearing in.
T he day had been exceeding clofe, f em in g to threaten
lif t * 1 h i " ’ Md We WCre now co.me fo neaF as to fee
diftinffly the large red ftandard, which, being pointed: out
to- the king, he faid, h a ilin g with a very chearful coun-
V l nCe’ ,Aye’ aye’ ™ w .w e ihall foon fee what mira*
cle k in g Theodorus w ill work.” The clouds had been gathering^
ever iince we went down the hill, and fome big
drops o f rain had fallen. The foldiers were now covering
their lighted matches, for.fear o f more, when firft a moft
violent ftorm o f thunder, lightening, and rain began, then
a h X ih ram ,and Wlnd’ andlaft a dead « t o , with fuch
a heavy fhower that I fearceever faw. the lik e even.in thu
rainy feafon,.
Hah,