JOHN LEDYARD. 263 



institution. The offer was accepted, and in 1772 

 Ledyard commenced a course of studies which was 

 intended to prepare him for laboring as a missionary 

 among the Indians, a portion of whom still re- 

 mained in New England. His journey from Hart- 

 ford to Hanover, the seat of the college, was per- 

 formed in a sulky, which attracted much notice 

 from the fact that it was the first vehicle of the 

 kind which had ever traversed that portion of the 

 continent. The peculiarities of Ledyard may be 

 inferred from the fact that, even in this journey, the 

 chief bulk of his baggage consisted of a theatrical 

 apparatus, with which he intended to amuse him- 

 self and his associates amid his more sober studies. 

 The prevalent simplicity of things at that time may 

 be inferred from the fact that the students of the 

 college were called together for recitation and prayers 

 by the sound of a conch-shell, which was blown by 

 the freshmen in their turns. 



After residing four months at the college, Led- 

 yard suddenly disappeared. "Not the slightest trace 

 could be discovered of his destination. After the 

 expiration of three months and a half, he as sud- 

 denly returned. Then the mystery of his strange 

 absence was revealed. He had wandered to the 

 borders of Canada, and had resided among the 

 " Six Nations." By this eccentric expedition he 



