GENERAL BIRD'S EXPEDITION. 469 a movement against a small section of a tribe holding only a few villages. But although the Maddakhel Waziris, who had made the attack at Maizar,could only muster 1,200 fighting men, it was fearedthat if a weakcolumn weredirected against them the result might be that other Waziri tribes would be encouraged to assist them. General Corrie Bird was given awhole division in order to overawepossible opposition, andprevent,ifpossible,what was supposed tobe a mere local outbreak setting the whole border on fire.

During the march of the expedition from Bannu to the advanced post at Dattakhel there were occasional shots fired into the camp at night,and one of the sentrieswas killed in this way. A fight was expected near Sheranni,but on July 20th Egerton's brigade occupied that village without firing a shot. Abody of Waziris, estimated at about 500, was seen retiring into the hills. The cavalry rode on to Maizar, and found that placealso abandoned.

A few shots were fired into the camp by "snipers" during the night. But next day there was no sign of an enemy. Rumour said that the Maddakhelhad takenrefuge in Afghan territory. Reports came in that one of the Mullahs was preaching a sacred war to other Waziri tribes in the neighbourhood,butnothing came of his efforts, except some raids on the post carts travelling with the mails from Bannu. As the enemy would not make a fight, steps were taken to destroy- his property. On July 25th and the three following days the towers of Maizar were blown up and the houses burned. The other houses and towers in the neighbourhood from which the enemy had fired on the column on June ioth were also demolished. Letters were then sent through friendly tribes to the chiefs of the Maddakhel, promising them a safe conduct if they would come in and discuss the terms the Government would impose in punishment for their treachery. But by this time the affairs of the Tochi were almost forgotten both in India and at home, for attention was riveted on a much more serious outbreak in another quarter.

i'll. GRAVES OF COLONEL BUNNY AND THE OFFICERS WHO HlEli 01- WOUNDS RECEIVED AT MAIZAR.