Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 4 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773Bruce, James
History
Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 4 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773
Bruce, James
Egypt -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- History; Natural history -- Ethiopia; Nile River
The fire increasing on the hill, and several musquets having been
heard, it was plain the enemy, in all the camps, were alarmed, and
our further stay became every moment more dangerous. Kefla Yasous now
beat a retreat, and sent the horsemen all round to force the foot
to make the best of their way back, ordering also all mules taken
to be ham-stringed and left, not to retard our return. Trumpets and
drums were heard from our camp, to warn us not to stay, as it was not
doubted but mischief would follow, and accordingly we were scarce
arrived within the limits of our camp when we heard the sound of horse
in the valley.
Michael, always watchful upon every accident, no sooner saw the fires
lighted on the hill, than he ordered Guebra Mascal to place a good
body of musqueteers about half way down the hill, as near as possible
to the ford of Mariam, thinking it probable that the enemy would
enter at both ends of the long hill, in order to surround those who
were destroying their camp, which they accordingly did, whilst those
of our people, who had taken to drinking, fell into the hands of the
troops that came by the lower road, and were all put to death. Those
that reached the upper ford served to afford us a severe revenge, for
Guebra Mascal, after having seen them pass between him and the river,
though it was a dark and very windy night, guessed very luckily their
position, and gave them so happy a fire, that most of those who were
not slain returned back without seeing Ayto Tesfos's camp, being
afraid that some other trap might still be in their way.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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