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
Tesfos had been observed not to fire since Woodage Asahel gained the
steep part of the hill, and it was thought it was from fear of galling
his friends; but it was soon known to be owing to another cause.
Kefla Yasous had ordered two of his nephews to take a body of troops,
with lances and shields only, and these were to go round the Ras's
tent, and down the side of the hill, till they were even with Tesfos
behind the screen where he lay. These two young men, proud of the sole
command which they had then received for the first time, executed it
with great alacrity; and tho' they were ordered by their uncle to
watch the time when Tesfos had fired, and then to run in upon him,
they disdained that precaution, but coming speedily upon him, part
of them threw down the stones under which he was concealed, and part
attacked him in the hollow, and, while much intent upon the success
of Woodage Asahel, he was in a moment overpowered and dislodged; and,
being twice wounded, with great difficulty he escaped. Seventeen of
his match-locks were brought into the camp, and with them a man of
great family in Samen, a relation or friend of Kefla Yasous. This
person, after having been regaled with the best that was in the camp,
and cloathed anew after their custom, was sent back the same night to
Ayto Tesfos, with this short message, "Tesfos had better be upon his
rock again, if my boys can beat him upon the plain at broad noon-day."
Coque Abou Barea, after having attempted several times to ascend the
hill, was beaten back as often, and obliged to desist. On the king's
side only eleven men were killed. The loss of the enemy was variously
reported. Sixty-three men only, and several horses of those with
Woodage Asahel, were left upon the side of the hill, after the fire
of near 1000 musquets--so contemptible is the most dangerous weapon
in an ignorant and timid hand. That night the body of musqueteers
called Lasta, part of the king's household, (in number about 300
men) deserted in a body. One of the worst consequences of that day's
engagement was, that the enemy, when in possession of the foot of
the hill, had thrown a great number of dead bodies, both of men and
beasts, into Deg-Ohha, which therefore now was abandoned altogether
by our troops. To make up for this, Ras Michael, that very evening,
advanced 2000 men upon the end of the long hill, immediately below
him, which post was never molested after, so that our beasts had
water in greater plenty and safety than when they were at a less
considerable distance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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