off amongst the transport cattle, and | Highlands of Scotland would have been hamstrung many, and cut down thirty easy compared with that which the or forty of the terrißed unarmed fol- wiry little horses, averaging 14.2 in lowers; others cut loose the cavalry height, of our native Irregular Cavalry horses, a score of which stampeded were required to cover at a trot. Howthrough the camp, increasing the gen-ever, the troopers were keen, their eral din. All this time the encircling leaders, if possible, keener; and follow ring outside the camp was advancing they did for seven miles over nullahs, nearer, firing, tom-toming, and yelling, down and up ravines, right into the yet afraid to rush. By degrees the re- grim passes, and on and on until serve of the Gurkhas, under Major stopped by cliffs and precipices, up Robinson, got together, and forming a which only mārkhor (the Suliman charallying-group in the centre of their mois) or sportsmen could climb. The camp, stood back to back and fought infantry, which had plodded on in the hand to hand with the enemy. When track of blood and Mahsud dead, here the pressure had relaxed a little, the took up the chase, firing at laggards Gurkhas formed up in an extended whom the chance of another shot at line, and working systematically with the hated unbelievers, weight of booty, the bayonet, cleared their camp. Two or possibly wounds, had belated in the other but less determined attacks were made from different directions, but neither was pushed home. By this time, about fifteen minutes after the first rush had been made, every man was at his post, and the enemy were losing heart. A few starshells were now fired, enabling the Sikhs to get in some effective volleys, after which the infernal din of yelling and tom-toming going on outside the camp subsided a little. Evidently the faint-hearts had begun to realize that the game was up. Grey dawn was now breaking in the east, facilitating the passing of many a devoted Ghâzi as they lay writhing from bayonet-wounds about the camp. Seeing that the attack had failed, and that it would be soon daylight, General Turner at once ordered out all available cavalry and some of his infantry in pursuit. The enemy was by this time in full retreat. Ten precious minutes were lost before a handful of mounted troopers could be collected, for whilst the troopers had been fighting on foot their grass-cutters had naturally hidden themselves instead of saddling the horses. However, by 6.10 A.M. the dashing commandant, Major O'Mealy, with sixty of his troopers at his back, was in eager chase. The going was frightful; the roughest ground in the Derah Ismail Khan, and had, as we have seen, taught the Mahsuds to grow potatoes. flight. In the pursuit about eighty Mahsuds were accounted for, raising their whole loss to between three and four hundred. Of that number they left one hundred and twenty-five bodies in and about the camp. Our own losses were severe, three officers and forty-two men killed, but of the latter twenty-four were followers, and six British officers and forty-seven native officers and men wounded, to which latter total the unfortunate followers contributed half.. As the chief brunt of the fighting inside the camp had fallen on the Gurkhas, almost all the casualties amongst the fighting men were theirs. They lost in killed and wounded five officers and sixty-one men. To the list of casualties amongst the men there had to be added a longer list of killed, wounded, and captured mules and horses. Thirtyseven breech-loaders and two coolie loads of rupees were also carried off. Tactically the only mistake made by General Turner in his otherwise admirable dispositions was that he allowed his men to be in their tents after 4 A.M. He did so to save them from needless exposure, as at the elevation of Wana (forty-four hundred feet) even early in November the mornings are bitterly cold, and at that season pneumonia is rife, as the thermometer ranges from below freezing-point to 85° Fahrenheit in the twenty-four hours. Moreover, the general had no certainty that an at one point. Their action had cleared attack would be made, and supposed 66 the air, and government must at once call up the reserve brigade, and sanction a punitive expedition. The Mahsuds expected it, as their levies in our pay in the Gumal Pass had all deserted as soon as news of the attack on the camp had reached them. But no; it was not to be not yet at least. The government still sought to avoid extremities, and accepted the view that a case for the enforcement of collective responsibility by collective punishment was not yet established. To the amazement of the Mahsuds themselves, they were told that if they surrendered their plunder and certain outlaws and other marked offenders within a month, their offence would be condoned. Such forbearance was incomprehensible to Mahsuds, and very trying to our soldiers. The feeling in camp was not complimentary either to government or their boundary commissioner. The fact is, government was as much surprised at the untoward event of November 3 as government's devoted but credulous commissioner. Making full allowance for all tactical shortcomings, however arising, one fact stands out clearly, and that is that it is always within the power of a determined enemy to rush a camp on a dark night and inflict severe loss before being repulsed. When the attack was When the Mahsud tribe realized that over, our officers recalled how thirty- government was anxious to condone five years before the same tribe had their offence, they misunderstood our surprised General Lumsden's camp at generosity. The winter was approachthe same time, almost at the same ing, they argued; there were no crops minute, under very similar circum- to destroy, and if the Sarkar's army stances, and with similar results. did march through their hills during With such a warning before him men wondered how Mr. Bruce - a civilian of thirty years' frontier service could have, almost up to the delivery of the assault, persuaded himself that no attempt in force would be made upon the camp. Their wonder was still greater when they heard that he was of opinion that only a portion of the Mahsud tribe had given way to a fanatical impulse, and that consequently the tribe collectively had not committed itself against the government. To the military mind Mr. Bruce's discriminating humanitarianism was quixotic. Three-tenths of the manhood of the Mahsuds had joined in the attack. It was as large a force as their commissariat and other difficulties would permit them to bring together the cold season, what harm could that army do? What harm had an invasion wrought them in 1860 or in 1881 ? So the Mahsud leaders temporized. They wished to stand well with their fellow-clansmen and well with the Indian government. When the month's grace had expired, and the easy conditions imposed by government had not been fulfilled, they asked for and at once obtained a fortnight's more grace. This time the Mahsud headmen did exert themselves a little, and brought in many of the horses and breech-loaders taken from us on November 3. The sudden change from non possumus to a show of compliance with the government ultimatum was due to the fact becoming known throughout Mahsud-land that "Lockhart Sahib" was coming to command the expeditionary for many generations plundered almost troops. Every tribesman throughout with impunity the camel caravans all the wild border-land knows that creeping up and down the Gumal Pass, when Sir William Lockhart leads murdered the unwary wherever found, troops against them the game is up. and harried the villages in the plains. When he commands, no time is lost in The troops eleven battalions of negotiations, in differentiating degrees native and one of British infantry (the of guilt and punishment between this Borderers), with some mountain bator that section or individual chief, or teries and irregular cavalry, in all in massing troops in standing camps nearly ten thousand men marched and wiring to Simla for instructions. simultaneously from three different General Lockhart is a practical soldier. points on the three chief villages of the He strikes hard and fast, never gives hostile tribe - Kaniguram, Makin, and the tribesmen time to discuss and col- Razmak—all lying near each other in lect, but sends out flying columns in all the heart of the Mahsud highlands, on directions, disperses every hostile gath- the slopes of the Pir Ghal mountain. ering, destroys all defences-mostly Arrived at their several objectives, six stone towers burns hostile villages, flying columns, each of from four hunand harries the enemy's cattle and dred to one thousand men, were sent sheep. Call such work marauding on out to systematically scour the valleys a large scale if you will, it succeeds. and hills, and give no rest to the asThere is little or no fighting, though tonished foe. It was now mid-winter, deaths from pneumonia are numerous. and snow had fallen on all the higher A few weeks of such harrying, and the mountains, hence some fastnesses were hostile tribe is on its knees, ready to closed to the enemy's families and buy peace and the retirement of Jack cattle. Though the severity of the Sepoy at any price. weather increased the hardships which With such a reputation preceding our troops had to endure, it was worse him, it is no wonder that those who for the Mahsuds than for us. It killed knew the general's methods amongst their people and their flocks and herds, the Mahsuds should have tried their or drove them down into places accesbest to keep him out of their country; sible to our columns. All defences but unfortunately for themselves many wherever found, except those of a few did not know, and did not believe, that friendly chiefs, were blown up with serious injury could be inflicted on gun-cotton. Every building or collec them in mid-winter. -- tion of cabins from which a shot was Up to almost the last day of the ex-fired was demolished or burnt down, tended period of grace the betting in and from first to last some ten thousand the Wana camp was even that there head of cattle-chiefly goats. were would be no expedition. The plunder captured, and proved a welcome addi- in the shape of horses and breech- tion to the scanty rations which the loaders was being slowly but steadily columns managed to carry with them. returned, and hostages were being sur- Of the three brigades, Colonel Egerrendered. At length the fateful day—ton's, known as "the Bannu Brigade,” December 12— came, and the terms was the smartest and most successful had not been complied with. The in cattle-lifting. Their bag aggregated joyful news was wired to Simla, the six thousand head, chiefly goats. Their "escort's" designation changed and two most lucky days were January 5 merged into that of the "Mahsud Field and 15. On the former date the Force," and full latitude given to Gen-raiders, numbering six hundred men eral Lockhart to bring the recalcitrant in all, marched at 4 A.M. and did not tribesmen to their senses. The six weary weeks of inaction were ended at last, and now the tables were to be turned on the wily Mahsud, who had get into camp until 6.30 P.M., after a twenty-eight miles' tramp up and down stony nullahs and over several ridges. This distance does not include the crowning of heights and the climbing involved in keeping a drove of three thousand refractory goats to the line of march. On the latter occasion only seven hundred were captured; but when the raiders had collected their booty, they found themselves benighted on the top of a mountain. They made their way down to the nearest shelter some huts in a ravine - and there bivouacked for the night. Their chronicler has immortalized the orgies of that memorable night: All the cattle [he has recorded] were penned into the houses, and filled them all, so the troops and officers had to pass the night in the open with no bedding and no food. It was bitterly cold, and beyond green wood, which would not burn, no fuel was obtainable. It was amusing to see the officers trying to cook some mutton for themselves, as one of the sheep was killed for dinner; but what with the green wood, its smoke, no cooking-pots, etc., and the impossibility of obtaining any hot water, the meat dinner had to be given up. Some one said pea-soup would be excellent; so, procuring a small brass pot, he proceeded to soak some of the mules' gram, but this also was left, as not even a fuse-box could be utilized with success to make soup in. Milk from the Waziri cow was the next suggestion, so three specially selected officers were deputed to try to tame a cow. After many trials and heroic efforts, and many butts and kicks, a cow was caught and tied, but alas! she was dry. Goats were the same. Finally hunger conquered, and pieces of mutton stuck on to a stick and roasted over the smoking fire had to be accepted as the evening meal. The cold at night was very trying, and sleep was denied to all, for one's feet grew so cold that every hour a sharp walk was imperative to keep one's circulation up. Added to these, there were a rowdy camel and a vicious horse careering about most of the night, and last, but not least, an army of rats, who would insist on running over one's face and body. With the darkness black as thunder, But "the boys of the Bannu Brigade,” toasted mutton and water: The wild Wazeroo in his fastnesses dwells, And fondly conceives himself safe from a They harry the cattle from hillside and Then at night there is such frying and And hashing and stewing and mincing and boiling and roasting, toasting; Though meat rations elsewhere are scarce, I'm afraid We do ourselves well in the Bannu Brigade. Before the middle of January, the Mahsuds were thoroughly humbled and anxious to carry out any reasonable terms, if only they could rid themselves of their involuntary guests. Their jirga, or council of elders, was at once summoned to hear the conditions of peace from the lips of the general. The announcement was made at Kundiwan on January 21 last. The members of the jirga were seated on the ground in rows, their heads bent forward and almost resting on their knees. As the guard of honor presented arms and Sir William Lockhart, accompanied by Mr. Bruce and General Symons, took their seats, the Mahsuds present hardly looked up. Whether they were That sort of campaigning appealed profoundly despondent, utterly apadifferently to different minds. Supper-thetic, or only sulky, who can tell? less, home-sick Thomas Atkins, sigh- As the terms were announced their ing for the lights and luxuries of the impassive attitude was maintained, Strand, bewailed his hard fate in a except when they were ordered to mournful ditty, of which the following surrender fifty breech-loaders, exclulines are a specimen :sive of those taken on November 3. - had come, but the long-suffering government was not prepared for action. Instead of calling up the "escort's " reserve and immediately carrying fire and sword throughout Mahsud-land, and through its agent tried to persuade the tribe to return their plunder. A month's grace was conceded, then a fortnight's more, and then came the inevitable a declaration of war. That was the end of the second phase. The third was the scouring and harrying of Mahsud-land by our troops. That work was thoroughly and quickly done, and enabled our officers to carry out the delimitation unmolested in a fortnight. The best that can be said of our political action before the declaration of war is, that it shows to what length of forbearance our government will sometimes go in order to avoid a frontier expedition. That roused them, and many shook the first phase. The time for action their heads hopelessly. When warned that they would be responsible for the safety of life and property on the Jhandola-Wana road, they looked at each other furtively, probably asking themselves what next, and several smiled the government resumed negotiations, incredulously. With the exception of the two terms just noticed, the others were easy and reasonable enough. The restitution of the remaining plunder, a small fine in arms, including the breechloaders already mentioned, the surrender of certain notorious outlaws and villains of sorts, the abstaining from plundering travellers on a road most of which was outside Mahsud limits these were the terms. The penalty of non-compliance was the continued military occupation of the country. To the surprise of many old frontier officers, all the terms were carried out within the time-limit fixed-the end of February. The demarcation work had already been finished, and had presented no difficulties. The troops were accordingly withdrawn from the occupied territory early in March, and the Mahsud expedition of 1894-95 was an event of the past. It was almost a bloodless expedition for the sepoy and his officers. Four killed and eighteen wounded was the butcher's bill. But though casualties from sword or bullet were few, losses from disease were heavy. From pneumonia alone there were one hundred and seventy-one deaths, and many a man has now probably the seeds of death in him from the privations of that mid-winter campaign. The cost of the actual campaign was only £150,000, to which may be added £25,000 for indirect consequential charges. It is the cheapest and most successful "little war " which the government of India has ever waged beyond its actual north-west frontier. S. S. THORBURN. From The Cornhill Magazine. THE ROMANCE OF VIOLIN COLLECTING. THERE are very good reasons why an old violin - of course, presuming it to be a good instrument to begin with is better than a new one, and still better reasons why the Italian violins of the classical period should remain the masterpieces of their kind. First of all there is the wood: that requires to be mellowed by age, and there is no artificial process that can take the place of The opponents of the long succession of little frontier wars which have during the last decade helped to drain the resources of India, have no reason to add the one sketched in the preceding pages to their list. The government hoped there would be no opposition. time in this matter. Vuillaume, the Mr. Bruce thought there would be celebrated Parisian maker and dealer, none. He was given a strong "es- experimented in trying to "age" the cort" and told to negotiate. From wood, both by chemicals and by bak"political considerations" he located ing, but the idea proved worthless. his escort in a position which invited Again, there is the kind of wood to be attack, and sat there until the attack used, and that is not such a simple was delivered. That was the end of affair as some people suppose. A vio |