They believed that they could do this with impunity, for no Englishman had ever visited their wild country, with its tremendous gorges and passes.
A large proportion of them were furnished with Martini and Lee-Metford rifles, and many of the others carried Sniders.
To operate against such formidable enemies, possessing almost impregnable positions, a large force was needed; and time was required to collect the troops.

Still more, an enormous train of baggage animals would be required, and a vast amount of stores of all kinds.
It was clear that the time that would be occupied in the preparations of the campaign would be very considerable; but, while these were being made, it was determined that the expedition from Peshawar should move, at once, into the Mohmund country, and finish with that tribe before the main operation began; and that the Malakand division, and the Mohmund field force should carry out the work of punishment, in the stretch of country lying between Lalpura and the Swat River.
It was known that Chakdara was holding out, but that it was hardly pressed, and the first step was to relieve the garrison.

Colonel Meiklejohn pushed forward, with a comparatively small force, and arrived at the Malakand on the 1st of August.

The reinforcement that had reached that garrison had enabled them to take the offensive, and orders were issued for a strong cavalry reconnaissance to the Amandara valley, five miles away.

They found the enemy in such force that the cavalry were obliged to retire, and they effected their retreat with great difficulty, under a very heavy fire.