] As the
rumours of an impending rising grew stronger and stronger, and the end
of July approached, this officer practised his men in taking stations in
the event of an alarm, and made such preparations as he thought
necessary for eventualities. On the 23rd he received an official warning
from the D.A.A.G. [Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant-General. Surely this
astounding title, with that of the Deputy-Assistant-Quarter-Master-
General, might be replaced with advantage by the more sensible and
appropriate terms "Brigade Adjutant" and "Brigade Quartermaster"!],
Major Herbert, that a tribal rising was "possible but not probable."
Every precaution was henceforth taken in the fort. On the 26th, a Sepoy,
who was out sketching, hurried in with the news that a large body of
tribesmen were advancing down the valley, and that he himself had been
robbed of his compass, his field-glasses and some money.
But, in spite of the disturbed and threatening situation, the British
officers of the Malakand garrison, though they took all military
precautions for the defence of their posts, did not abandon their
practice of riding freely about the valley, armed only with revolvers.
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