rvice. Already
sure of victory, they fell at once upon Quama. I immediately ordered
against them twelve thousand infantry, among whom were six hundred
musketeers, and four thousand horsemen. As I had not the slightest doubt
of a fortunate termination to this expedition, I requested the emperor
to take command of it, and thus reap the honor of the victory. By this
appearance of modesty, I lost no respect, for the whole army still
considered me the true leader. I first directed my cavalry against the
enemy, but these were resisted with so much vigor, that the side of
victory was for a long time doubtful: at the critical moment, when
triumph was vacillating between the two powers, I detached my musketeers
from the main body and advanced upon the foe. The Tanaquites were much
astonished at the first shots, for they could not conceive whence came
the thunder and lightning; but when they saw the mournful effects of our
continued volleys, they became terrified; at the first discharge fell
about two hundred tigers, among which were two chaplains, who were shot
down while encouraging the soldiers to bravery. When I observed the
panic among the enemy, I commanded a second discharge, whose results
were more fatal than the former; their king himself was shot: then the
Tanaquites took to flight; our cavalry followed them, and cut down so
many of the flying multitude, that those in the rear could not proceed
from the huge piles of slain that covered the way. When the battle was
over, we counted the killed of the enemy and found them to be thirteen
thousand: our own loss was comparatively very slight. The victorious
army marched into the kingdom of Tanaqui and encamped before its
capital. The general terror had meanwhile increased so much, that the
magistrates submissively met the conquerors and delivered the keys of
the city. The capital surrendering, the whole country soon followed its
example. The disregard and contempt in which the Quamites had to this
time been held, were changed to admiration and fear: the empire, with
the addition of the newly conquered kingdom, was extended to twice its
former size.

The glory of these actions was with one voice ascribed to my superior
knowledge and untiring industry; and the esteem which had been long
cherished for me, now passed over to a reverent and divine worship. This
period of general peace and exultation, I thought a fitting time to
advance the civilization and refinement of the Quamit