 The Gandangara joined forces with the Thurrawal/Darawal, who had linked up with remnants of the Dharug, in order to participate in the frontier war, also raiding cornfields.The decline in Dharug population had opened up parts of their territory to use by neighbouring tribal groups, which also fought among themselves.Aside from considerations of defending their territories against the European colonial expansion, a period of severe drought may have influenced this turn in strategy.