JOHN LEDYARD. 327 



winds, bugs, mosquitos, spiders, flies, leprosy, 

 fevers, and almost universal blindness? I am in 

 perfect health. Adieu for the present, and believe 

 me to be, with all possible esteem and regard, your 

 sincere friend." 



From Alexandria Ledyard proceeded to Cairo. 

 Here he made those preparations for his journey 

 into the interior which were still requisite. His 

 purpose was to join some caravan which travelled 

 southward and continue with it to the end of its 

 route ; after which he determined to shape his 

 course according to circumstances. He employed 

 three months at Cairo in various preliminary labors. 

 His journal describes with great interest his pro- 

 gress from Alexandria to the gorgeous capital of 

 Egypt, as well as his plans and arrangements for the 

 future completion of his enterprise. 



But the malignant and hostile fate which had 

 attended this remarkable man throughout his whole 

 life, did not desert him even in the hour of his 

 brightest hope. The shaft of death prostrated him 

 just on the eve of his triumph. Daring his resi- 

 dence at Cairo he was much exposed to the heat of 

 the sun, at a very unfavorable period of the year. 

 This exposure brought on an attack of bilious 

 colic. Ledyard rashly attempted to cure himself 

 by administering the ordinary remedy of vitriolic 



