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
Woodage Asahel had now advanced within about thirty yards of the
musquetry that were expecting him, when unluckily the hill became
more steep, and Ayto Tesfos (for some reason not then known) ceased
firing. The king was now close to the very brow of the hill, nor
could any one persuade him to keep at a greater distance. I was not
far from him, and had no sort of doubt but that I should presently
see the whole body of the enemy destroyed by the fire awaiting them,
and blown into the air. Woodage Asahel was very conspicuous by a red
fillet, or bandage, wrapt about his head, the two ends hanging over
his ears, whilst he was waving with his hands for the troops below to
follow briskly, and support those near him, who were impeded by the
roughness and mossy quality of the ground. At this instant the king's
troops fired, and I expected to see the enemy strewed dead along the
face of the hill. Indeed we saw them speedily disappear, but like
living men, riding and running down the declivity so as even to excite
laughter. Woodage Asahel, with two men only, bravely gained the top of
the mountain, and, as he passed the king's tent, pulled off his red
fillet, making a sign as of saluting it, and then galloped through the
middle of the camp. He was now descending unhurt upon the left, where
Abou Barea had been engaged and beaten, when Sebastos, a Greek, the
king's cook, seventy-five years of age, of whom I have already spoken
in the campaign of Maitsha, lying behind a stone, with his gun in his
hand, seeing the troops engage below, fired at him as he passed: the
ball took place in the left side of his belly. He was seen stooping
forward upon the tore of his saddle, with some men supporting him
on each side, in his way to his tent, where he died in the evening,
having, by his behaviour that day, deserved a better fate. Sebastos
reported this feat of his to the king, but it was not believed, till
a confirmation of the fact came in the evening, when Sebastos was
cloathed, and received a reward from the king.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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