[Edward Manning Ruttenber (1872)] subsistence. These Indians in time of war gave the, French intelligence of all designs here against them." — Golden, Co lonial History, v, 732. " They became a thorn to the frontier towns and settle ments of New England during the whole of the French war, and of the American Revolution." — Schoolcraft. They num bered, in 1745, two hundred and thirty fighting men. 180 THE INDIAN TRIBES cooks as well as of Mohawks and Oneidas* The Mohawks felt the loss deeply, and exhausted every effort to reclaim the wan derers, but without avail. Not only was foundation laid for the subsequent weakness of the Iroquois by the defection of the Praying Indians, but by the settlement among the Lenapes of the Shawanoes of Maryland and Virginia. At the outbreak of the war the Shawanoes were con testing the advance of the Iroquois in the south, and were also engaged in war with the Cherokees. In the latter they suffered severely, and but for the timely aid of the Mahicans, would