a voyage to abyssinia-第12章

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ive　him　and　his　men；　if　they　would　return；　free　passage；　and　furnish　them　with　necessaries；　that　he　might　consult　upon　the　matter；　and　depend　upon　his　word；　reminding　him；　however；　that　it　was　not　safe　to　refuse　his　offer。

The　general　presented　the　ambassador　with　a　rich　robe；　and　returned　this　gallant　answer：　　〃That　he　and　his　fellow…soldiers　were　come　with　an　intention　to　drive　Mahomet　out　of　these　countries；　which　he　had　wrongfully　usurped；　that　his　present　design　was；　instead　of　returning　back　the　way　he　came；　as　Mahomet　advised；　to　open　himself　a　passage　through　the　country　of　his　enemies；　that　Mahomet　should　rather　think　of　determining　whether　he　would　fight　or　yield　up　his　ill…gotten　territories；　than　of　prescribing　measures　to　him；　that　he　put　his　whole　confidence　in　the　omnipotence　of　God　and　the　justice　of　his　cause；　and　that　to　show　how　just　a　sense　he　had　of　Mahomet's　kindness；　he　took　the　liberty　of　presenting　him　with　a　looking…glass　and　a　pair　of　pincers。〃

This　answer；　and　the　present；　so　provoked　Mahomet；　who　was　at　dinner　when　he　received　it；　that　he　rose　from　table　immediately　to　march　against　the　Portuguese；　imagining　he　should　meet　with　no　resistance；　and　indeed；　any　man；　however　brave；　would　have　been　of　the　same　opinion；　for　his　forces　consisted　of　fifteen　thousand　foot；　beside　a　numerous　body　of　cavalry；　and　the　Portuguese　commander　had　but　three　hundred　and　fifty　men；　having　lost　eight　in　attacking　some　passes；　and　left　forty　at　Mazma；　to　maintain　an　open　intercourse　with　the　viceroy　of　the　Indies。　　This　little　troop　of　our　countrymen　were　upon　the　declivity　of　a　hill　near　a　wood；　above　them　stood　the　Abyssins；　who　resolved　to　remain　quiet　spectators　of　the　battle；　and　to　declare　themselves　on　that　side　which　should　be　favoured　with　victory。

Mahomet　began　the　attack　with　only　ten　horsemen；　against　whom　as　many　Portuguese　were　detached；　who　fired　with　so　much　exactness；　that　nine　of　the　Moors　fell；　and　the　tenth　with　great　difficulty　made　his　escape。　　This　omen　of　good　fortune　gave　the　soldiers　great　encouragement；　the　action　grew　hot；　and　they　came　at　length　to　a　general　battle；　but　the　Moors；　dismayed　by　the　advantages　our　men　had　obtained　at　first；　were　half　defeated　before　the　fight。　　The　great　fire　of　our　muskets　and　artillery　broke　them　immediately。　Mahomet　preserved　his　own　life　not　without　difficulty；　but　did　not　lose　his　capacity　with　the　battle：　　he　had　still　a　great　number　of　troops　remaining；　which　he　rallied；　and　entrenched　himself　at　Membret；　a　place　naturally　strong；　with　an　intention　to　pass　the　winter　there；　and　wait　for　succours。

The　Portuguese；　who　were　more　desirous　of　glory　than　wealth；　did　not　encumber　themselves　with　plunder；　but　with　the　utmost　expedition　pursued　their　enemies；　in　hopes　of　cutting　them　entirely　off。　　This　expectation　was　too　sanguine：　　they　found　them　encamped　in　a　place　naturally　almost　inaccessible；　and　so　well　fortified；　that　it　would　be　no　less　than　extreme　rashness　to　attack　them。　　They　therefore　entrenched　themselves　on　a　hill　over　against　the　enemy's　camp；　and　though　victorious；　were　under　great　disadvantages。　　They　saw　new　troops　arrive　every　day　at　the　enemy's　camp；　and　their　small　number　grew　less　continually；　their　friends　at　Mazna　could　not　join　them；　they　knew　not　how　to　procure　provisions；　and　could　put　no　confidence　in　the　Abyssins；　yet　recollecting　the　great　things　achieved　by　their　countrymen；　and　depending　on　the　Divine　protection；　they　made　no　doubt　of　surmounting　all　difficulties。

Mahomet　on　his　part　was　not　idle；　he　solicited　the　assistance　of　the　Mahometan　princes；　pressed　them　with　all　the　motives　of　religion；　and　obtained　a　reinforcement　of　two　thousand　musketeers　from　the　Arabs；　and　a　train　of　artillery　from　the　Turks。　　Animated　with　these　succours；　he　marched　out　of　his　trenches　to　enter　those　of　the　Portuguese；　who　received　him　with　the　utmost　bravery；　destroyed　prodigious　numbers　of　his　men；　and　made　many　sallies　with　great　vigour；　but　losing　every　day　some　of　their　small　troops；　and　most　of　their　officers　being　killed；　it　was　easy　to　surround　and　force　them。

Their　general　had　already　one　arm　broken；　and　his　knee　shattered　with　a　musket…shot；　which　made　him　unable　to　repair　to　all　those　places　where　his　presence　was　necessary　to　animate　his　soldiers。　Valour　was　at　length　forced　to　submit　to　superiority　of　numbers；　the　enemy　entered　the　camp　and　put　all　to　the　sword。　　The　general　with　ten　more　escaped　the　slaughter；　and　by　means　of　their　horses　retreated　to　a　wood；　where　they　were　soon　discovered　by　a　detachment　sent　in　search　of　them；　and　brought　to　Mahomet；　who　was　overjoyed　to　see　his　most　formidable　enemy　in　his　power；　and　ordered　him　to　take　care　of　his　uncle　and　nephew；　who　were　wounded；　telling　him　he　should　answer　for　their　lives；　and；　upon　their　death；　taxed　him　with　hastening　it。　　The　brave　Portuguese　made　no　excuses；　but　told　him　he　came　thither　to　destroy　Mahometans；　and　not　to　save　them。　　Mahomet；　enraged　at　this　language；　ordered　a　stone　to　be　put　on　his　head；　and　exposed　this　great　man　to　the　insults　and　reproaches　of　the　whole　army。　　After　this　they　inflicted　various　kinds　of　tortures　on　him；　which　he　endured　with　incredible　resolution；　and　without　uttering　the　least　complaint；　praising　the　mercy　of　God　who　had　ordained　him　to　suffer　in　such　a　cause。

Mahomet；　at　last　satisfied　with　cruelty；　made　an　offer　of　sending　him　to　the　viceroy　of　the　Indies；　if　he　would　turn　Mussulman。　　The　hero　took　fire　at　this　proposal；　and　answered　with　the　highest　indignation　that　nothing　should　make　him　forsake　his　heavenly　Master　to　follow　an　impostor；　and　continued　in　the　severest　terms　to　vilify　their　false　prophet；　till　Mahomet　struck　off　his　head。

Nor　did　the　resentment　of　Mahomet　end　here；　he　divided　his　body　into　quarters；　and　sent　them　to　different　places。　　The　Catholics　gathered　the　remains　of　this　glorious　martyr；　and　interred　them。　　Every　Moor　that　passed　by　threw　a　stone　upon　his　grave；　and　raised　in　time　such　a　heap；　as　I　found　it　difficult　to　remove　when　I　went　in　search　of　those　precious　relics。

What　I　have　here　related　of　the　death　of　Don　Christopher　de　Gama　I　was　told　by　an　old　man；　who　was　an　eye…witness　of　it：　　and　there　is　a　tradition　in　the　country　that　in　the　place　where　his　head　fell；　a　fountain　sprung　up　of　wonderful　virtue；　which　cured　many　diseases　otherwise　past　remedy。



Chapter　VI



Mahomet　continues　the　war；　and　is　killed。　　The　stratagem　of　Peter　Leon。


Mahomet；　that　he　might　make　the　best　use　of　his　victory；　ranged　over　a　great　part　of　Abyssinia　in　search　of　the　Emperor　Claudius；　who　was　then　in　the　kingdom　of　Dambia。　　All　places　submitted　to　the　Mahometan；　whose　insolence　increased　every　day　with　his　power；　and　nothing　after　the　defeat　of　the　Portuguese　was　supposed　able　to　put　a　stop　to　the　progress　of　his　arms。

The　soldiers　of　Portugal；　having　lost　their　chief；　resorted　to　the　Emperor；　who；　though　young；　promised　great　things；　and　told　them　that　since　their　own　general　was　dead；　they　would　accept　of　none　but　himself。　　He　received　them　with　great　kindness；　and　hearing　of　Don　Christopher　de　Gama's　misfortune；　could　not　forbear　honouring　with　some　tears　the　memory　of　a　man　who　had　come　so　far　to　his　succour；　and　lost　his　life　in　his　cause。

The　Portuguese；　resolved　at　any　rate　to　revenge　the　fate　of　their　general；　desired　the　Emperor　to　assign　them　the　post　opposite　to　Mahomet；　which　was　willingly　granted　them。　　That　King；　flushed　with　his　victories；　and　imagining　to　fight　was　undoubtedly　to　conquer；　sought　all　occasions　of　giving　the　Abyssins　battle。　　The　Portuguese；　who　desired　nothing　more　than　to　re…establish　their　reputation　by　revenging　the　affront　put　upon　them　by　the　late　defeat；　advised　the　Emperor　to　lay　hold　on　the　first　opportunity　of　fighting。　　Both　parties　joined　battle　with　equal　fury。　　The　Portuguese　directed　all　their　force　against　that　part　where　Mahomet　was　posted。　　Peter　Leon；　who　had　been　servant　to　the　general；　singled　the　King　out　among　the　crowd；　and　shot　him　into　the　head　with　his　musket。　　Mahomet；　finding　himself　wounded；　would　have　retired　out　of　the　battle；　and　was　followed　by　Peter　Leon；　till　he　fell　down　dead；　the　Portuguese；　alighting　from　his　horse；　cut　off　one　of　his　ears。　　The　Moors　being　now　without　a　leader；　continued　the　fight　but　a　little　time；　and　at　length　fled　different　ways　in　the　utmost　disorder；　the　Abyssinians　pursued　them；　and　made　a　prodigious　slaughter。　　One　of　them；　seeing　the　King's　body　on　the　ground；　cut　off　his　head　and　presented　it　to　the　Emperor。　　The　sight　of　it　filled　the　whole　camp　with　acclamations；　every　one　applauded　the　valour　and　good　fortune　of　the　Abyssin；　and　no　reward　was　thought　great　enough　for　so　important　a　service。　　Peter　Leon；　having　stood　by　some　time；　asked　whether　the　King　had　but　one　ear？　if　he　had　two；　says　he；　it　seems　likely　that　the　man　who　killed　him　cut　off　one　and　keeps　it　as　a　proof　of　his　exploit。　　The　Abyssin　stood　confused；　and　the　Portuguese　produced　the　ear　out　of　his　pocket。　　Every　one　commended　the　stratagem；　and　the　Emperor　commanded　the　Abyssin　to　restore　all　the　presents　he　had　received；　and　delivered　them　with　many　more　to　Peter　Leon。

I　imagined　the　reader　would　not　be　displeased　to　be　informed　who　this　man　was；　whose　precious　remains　were　searched　for　by　a　viceroy　of　Tigre；　at　the　command　of　the　Emperor　himself。　　The　commission　was　directed　to　me；　nor　did　I　ever　receive　one　that　was　more　welcome　on　many　accounts。　　I　had　contracted　an　intimate　friendship　with　the　Count　de　Vidigueira；　viceroy　of　the　Indies；　and　had　been　desired　by　him；　when　I　took　my　leave　of　him；　upon　going　to　Melinda；　to　inform　myself　where　his　relation　was　buried；　and　to　send　him　some　of　his　relics。

The　viceroy；　son…in…law　to　the　Emperor；　with　whom　I　was　joined　in　the　commission；　gave　me　many　distinguishing　proofs　of　his　affection　to　me；　and　of　his　zeal　for　the　Catholic　religion。　　It　was　a　journey　of　fifteen　days　through　part　of　the　country　possessed　by　the　Galles；　which　made　it　necessary　to　take　troops　with　us　for　our　security；　yet；　notwithstanding　this　precaution；　the　hazard　of　the　expedition　appeared　so　great；　that　our　friends　bid　us　farewell　with　tears；　and　looked　upon　us　as　destined　to　unavoidable　destruction。　　The　viceroy　had　given　orders　to　some　troops　to　join　us　on　the　road；　so　that　our　little　army　grew　stronger　as　we　advanced。　　There　is　no　making　long　marches　in　this　country；　an　army　here　is　a　great　city　well　peopled　and　under　exact　government：　　they　take　their　wives　and　children　with　them；　and　the　camp　hath　its　streets；　its　market　places；　its　churches；　courts　of　justice；　judges；　and　civil　officers。

Before　they　set　forward；　they　advertise　the　governors　of　provinces　through　which　they　are　to　pass；　that　they　may　take　care　to　furnish　what　is　necessary　for　the　subsistence　of　the　troops。　　These　governors　give　notice　to　the　adjacent　places　that　the　army　is　to　march　that　way　on　such　a　day；　and　that　they　are　assessed　such　a　quantity　of　bread；　beer；　and　cows。　　The　peasants　are　very　exact　in　supplying　their　quota；　being　obliged　to　pay　double　the　value　in　case　of　failure；　and　very　often　when　they　have　produced　their　full　share；　they　are　told　that　they　have　been　deficient；　and　condemned　to　buy　their　peace　with　a　large