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FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE OHIO
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any carrier of news had troubled them."

Céloron gave his envoys a start of several hours before resuming his journey. By embarking early on the morning of the twenty-second, they were enabled to reach St. Yotoc that day, and encamped opposite the village. The next three days were spent in holding councils. The Chaouanons (Shawanese) inhabitants of "St. Yotoc," were very suspicious of the French and their intentions. Bonnécamps says: "Monsieur the Commandant had great difficulty to reassure them." "The situation of the village of the Chaouanons is quite pleasant—at least, it is not masked by the mountains, like the other villages through which we had passed. The Sinhioto river, which bounds it on the West, has given it its name. It is composed of about sixty cabins. The Englishmen there numbered five. They were ordered to withdraw, and promised to do so."

The expedition embarked on the morning of the twenty-sixth of August and reached Rivière la Blanche[1] that night at ten

  1. Rivière Blanche was a name given by the French to several streams which contained unusually clear