have returned to their homes.

The Mullah had been gathering forces together for an attack on Peshawar,
a strong British fort. To make his attempt successful he needed more men
than he had under his command; he therefore ordered a tribe called the
Mohmands to join him, and marched toward Peshawar, expecting to meet
them on the way.

When he and his followers arrived at the meeting-place, he found to his
dismay that instead of the host of warriors he had expected, there was
only a messenger from the chief of the Mohmands, who told him in very
plain terms that they would have nothing to do with either the revolt or
the attack on Peshawar.

On hearing this it is said that the Mullah was so discouraged that he
refused to lead the Swatis anymore, and ordered his followers to go back
to their homes.

If this report be indeed true, the worst of the rebellion is undoubtedly
over, for the Haddah Mullah was the most dangerous enemy the British had
to fear in the frontier war. By preying upon the superstitions of the
tribe he had obtained such an influence over them that they regarded him
as a prophet and obeyed his slightest word.

To make them fight bravely he distributed rice that had been colored
pink among his followers on the eve of a battle, and assured them that
all who carried it would pass through the fiercest battle without a
wound or scratch.

On one occasion when the rice had been handed round from man to man it