228 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



While these forts were yet building, the Mohmunds 

 did their utmost to annoy the workmen, and near 

 Michni erected a high tower on a knoll about two 

 miles off in defiance. Two young British officers took 

 it into their heads to ride round this tower one even- 

 ing; but as they were returning a volley was fired 

 into them, and one killed. Troops were sent out, 

 who destroyed the tower ; but it was again and again 

 rebuilt, and as often destroyed, before the Mohmunds 

 became more peaceful. At that time the supremacy 

 of the Khan of Lalpoorah was unquestioned; and 

 our Government thought that the surest way of put- 

 ting a stop to these annoyances would be to send a 

 force to burn Lalpoorah itself. Had this been done, 

 it is quite possible that the sudden destruction of a 

 village so far within the hills would have terrified the 

 Mohmunds ; but the slightest failure would have made 

 matters much worse. 



So little was then known of the country, that it 

 appears to have been considered practicable to march 

 troops, with guns, to Lalpoorah and back in three 

 days, up the banks of the Cabul river. The only 

 route along the banks is a narrow track, which in 

 places is just practicable for experienced climbers ! 

 Luckily, Sir Colin Campbell (Lord Clyde), the 

 brigadier in Peshawar, declined to attempt the march 

 with a force less than ten thousand men, and the 

 project dropped. And it was just as well that it did ; 

 for we would have had not only Mohmunds, but all 



