The return was now decided upon.

It was considered by the authorities that it would be less expensive to organize another expedition in the spring, when the sowing had begun; than to maintain a large force in the Tirah during the winter.

The Afridis would not come down, and orders were therefore issued for destroying all the villages.

These were burned, and the axe laid to the roots of the beautiful groves.
The tribal representatives of the Kambar-Khels, Alla-Khels, Malikdin-Khels, and Kuki-Khels came in.

They were ordered to send in eight hundred serviceable rifles, fifty thousand rupees in cash, and all property that had been stolen.
When the force arrived at Bagh there was a sharp action, and the casualties amounted to twenty-two wounded and seven killed.