AGAINST THE LURRUCKZAI MOHMUNDS AND MEERANZIES. 1854–55.

To punish the Mohmunds for their raids into British territory, in August, 1854, an expedition commanded by Sir Sydney Cotton was despatched against them. After an unimportant skirmish or two the principal villages of the Mohmunds were taken and destroyed, and the troops returned. The 22nd. Foot was the only British regiment which took part in this affair. The Meeranzies, a Pathan tribe, occupying the hilly country near Thull, for a long time had made incursions into British territory, sacking the villages, and carrying off the inhabitants for ransom. At length the Punjaub Government resolved to chastise them, and in April, 1855, a strong force of 3500 men under the command of Brigadier (afterwards Sir Neville) Chamberlain, marched towards Meeranzie. On April 30th. he was attacked by the enemy in Upper Meeranzie, but after a brief action drove them back in confusion. The hill men were pursued, their villages and stores of grain destroyed, and a severe retribution dealt them for their long continuous acts of hostility against the defenceless inhabitants of the British border. None but Native troops were employed in this expedition.