270 JOHN LEDYARD. 



now well-known name of Sandwich, and which till 

 then had never before been visited by the feet of 

 Europeans. He found a safe harbor here, and car- 

 ried on an extensive intercourse with the simple- 

 minded inhabitants. 



From the Sandwich Islands Cook proceeded to 

 the western coast of North America. He reached 

 Nootka Sound without any accident ; and although 

 Ledyard was here three thousand miles distant from 

 the place of his birth, yet he describes in his jour- 

 nal the intense feeling of delight with which he 

 again touched the soil of his native land. Here he 

 formed some acquaintance with the trade and the 

 profits of the British and Russian Fur Company, 

 which information exercised an important influence 

 on many of his movements in subsequent years. 

 For the sake of illustrating the nature of Ledyard's 

 favorite occupations, as well as in order to exhibit 

 the literary style of the ex-student of theology and 

 world-wanderer, we make the following extract 

 from the journal which he carefully kept during 

 the progress of this remarkable voyage. Says he : 

 "I have before observed that we had noticed many 

 appearances to the eastward of this of a European 

 intercourse, and that we had at this island in parti- 

 cular (Onalaska, on the northwest coast) met with 

 circumstances that did not only indicate such an 



