one of alternate successes and reverses, with positive advantages undetermined ; but at the south, where the French alliance was without power, the Lenapes, Minsis, Susquehannas, dndastesj and other tribes became tributary to their ancient enemies.

With the progress of the French in the west, and the gathering *

Note

3,

ante

p.

35.

Raffeix, the

French

1672: missionary, writes, in " God preserve the Andastcs, who have only three hundred warriors, and bless their arms to humiliate the Iroquois and preserve to us peace and our missions."

Brodhcad, n, 193. nations against their

The wars of the five own kindred, as in

the case of the Andastes, Eries y etc., are one of the unexplained passages in their history,

THE INDIAN TRIBES

thither of tribes

retreating before the civilization which was the condition of even the subjugated tribes

rolling upon them,

improved, while the integrity of the Iroquois was compromised. What the French lacked in position they made up in zeal, and

pushed their priests and their fire-arms together.

Their success

was far greater than the English could wish. The Mohawks were shorn of an entire canton of converts the flower of the Mohicans became the trophies of the priests the Senecas, who could call out more warriors than their four associate tribes combined, were detached almost entirely, two small villages only ;

;

hundred years of retaining their allegiance to the English. war and diplomacy gave the French a very strong position, and correspondingly elevated the tribes with which they were in The English were compelled to dictate the removal