Chapman, in his history of Wyoming, states, that after the Shawanoes were driven from Georgia and Florida, they built a town at the mouth of the Wabash, and established themselves in it.  They then applied to the Delawares for some territory on which to reside.  When granted, a council was held to consider the propriety of accepting the offer of the Delawares.  On this question the Shawanoes divided—­part of them remained on the Wabash,—­the others, composing chiefly the Piqua tribe, formed a settlement in the forks of the Delaware.  Alter a time, a disagreement arose between them and the Delawares, which induced the former to remove to the valley of the Wyoming, on the Susquehannah, on the west bank of which they built a town, and lived in repose many years.  Subsequently to the treaty held at Philadelphia, in 1742, between the governor and the Six Nations, the Delawares were driven from that part of Pennsylvania; and a portion of them also removed to the Wyoming valley, then in possession of the Shawanoes, and secured the quiet occupancy of a part of it; built a town on the east bank of the river, which they called Waughwauwame, where they lived for some time, on terms of amity with their new neighbors.

During the summer of 1742, count Zinzendorf of Saxony, came to America on a religious mission, connected with the ancient church of the United Brethren.  Having heard of the Shawanoes at Wyoming, he determined to make an effort to introduce Christianity among them.  He accordingly made them a visit, but did not meet with a cordial reception.  The Shawanoes supposed that the missionary was in pursuit of their lands; and a party of them determined to assassinate him privately, for fear of exciting other Indians to hostility.  The attempt upon his life was made, but strangely defeated.  Chapman relates the manner of it, which he obtained from a companion of the count, who did not publish it in his memoirs, lest the United Brethren might suppose that the subsequent conversion of the Shawanoes was the result of their superstition.  It is as follows: 

“Zinzendorf was alone in his tent, seated upon a bundle of dry weeds, which composed his bed, and engaged in writing, when the assassins approached to execute their bloody commission.  It was night, and the cool air of September had rendered a small fire necessary for his comfort and convenience.  A curtain, formed of a blanket, and hung upon pins, was the only guard to his tent.  The heat of this small fire had aroused a large rattlesnake, which lay in the weeds not far from it; and the reptile, to enjoy it the more effectually, had crawled slowly into the tent, and passed over one of his legs, undiscovered.  Without, all was still and quiet, except the gentle murmur of the river, at the rapids about a mile below.  At this moment, the Indians softly approached the door of his tent and slightly removing the curtain, contemplated the venerable man, too deeply engaged in the subject of his thoughts to notice either their