Memoirs of the Life and Travels of John Ledyard: From His Journals and CorrespondenceColburn, 1828 - 428 pages |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acquainted adventure Africa America appear arrived Asia Asiatic Barnaoul boats Buretti Cairo canoe Captain Cook character chief circumstances civilized Commandant continent Cook's curious custom discovery dress Empress England enterprise expedition favour friends heart honour human hundred Indians inhabitants Irkutsk islands JOHN LEDYARD journal journey Kalmuks Kamtschatka Karamyscheff Kazan kind Kolyvan lake land language Ledyard letter London manner ment miles missionary Monguls months natives nature never Nootka Sound North Northwest Coast observed Ocean Okotsk Omai Otaheite Pacific Ocean Pallas Paris passed person Petersburg Poulaho present procure purpose remarkable resemblance respect river river Kolyma Russian sailed savage says season seen Sennaar sent ship shore Siberia snow Society Islands Southold suppose Swedish Lapland Tartars Teraiobu thing thought tion Tobolsk town traveller tribes versts vessel voyage winter write Yakuti Yakutsk Yenissey Zealand
Popular passages
Page 399 - I have known both hunger and nakedness to the utmost extremity of human suffering. I have known what it is to have food given me as charity to a madman ; and I have at times been obliged to shelter myself under the miseries of that character, to avoid a heavier calamity. My distresses have been greater than I have ever owned, or ever will own, to any man.
Page 118 - It is natural to an ingenuous mind, when it enters a town, a house, or ship, that has been rendered famous by any particular event, to feel the full force of that pleasure, which results from gratifying a noble curiosity. I was no sooner informed, that this sloop was the same in which the famous Bering had performed those discoveries, which did him so much honor, and his country such great service, than I was determined to go on board of her, and indulge the generous feelings the occasion inspired.
Page 383 - I was struck with the manliness of his person, the breadth of his chest, the openness of his countenance, and the inquietude of his eye. I spread the map of Africa before him, and tracing a line from Cairo to Sennaar, and from thence westward in the latitude and supposed direction of the Niger, I told him, that was the route, by which I was anxious that Africa might, if possible, be explored. He said, he should think himself singularly fortunate to be trusted with the adventure.
Page 304 - A little of my toil might better brace your bodies, give spring to mind and zest to enjoyment; and a very little of that wealth, which you scatter around you, would put it beyond the power of anything but death to oppose my kindred greetings with all on earth that bear the stamp of man. This is the third time, that I have been overtaken and arrested by winter; and both the others, by giving time for my evil genius to rally his hosts about me, have defeated the enterprise. Fortune, thou hast humbled...
Page 134 - ... we had been very assiduous too. We found the country here, as well as at the seashore, universally overspread with lava, and also saw several subterranean excavations, that had every appearance of past eruption and fire. Our botanist to-day met with great success, and we had also shot a number of...
Page 149 - Cook perceiving the people determined to oppose his designs, and that he should not succeed without further bloodshed, ordered the lieutenant of marines, Mr. Phillips, to withdraw his men and get them into the boats, which were then lying ready to receive them. This was effected by the sergeant; but the instant they began to retreat Cook was hit with a stone, and perceiving the man who threw it shot him dead. The officer in the boats observing the guard retreat and hearing this third discharge ordered...
Page 48 - His manly form, mild but animated and expressive eye, perfect self-possession, a boldness not obtrusive, but showing a consciousness of his proper dignity, an independent spirit, and a glow of enthusiasm giving life to his conversation and his whole deportment, — these were traits which could not escape so discriminating an eye as that of Cook ; they formed a rare combination peculiarly suited to the hardships and perils of his daring enterprise. They gained the confidence of the great navigator,...
Page 383 - Sennar, and from thence Westward in the latitude and supposed direction of the Niger, I told him that was the route, by which I was anxious that Africa might, if possible, be explored. He said he should think himself singularly fortunate to be entrusted with the Adventure. I asked him when he would set out? "To-morrow morning,
Page 134 - We found the country here, as well as at the sea-shore, universally overspread with lava, and also saw several subterranean excavations, that had every appearance of past eruption and fire. Our botanist to-day met with great success, and we had also shot a number of fine birds of the liveliest and most variegated plumage that any of us had ever met with; but we heard no melody among them. Except these, we saw no other kind of birds but the screech-owl; neither did we see any kind of quadruped; but...
Page 258 - In this vehicle they were hurried along with considerable speed towards Kazan, through Vladimir, Nishnei Novogorod, and other towns. Kazan stands on the right bank of the majestic Wolga, and is the capital of a province of the same name. It is ranked among the first cities "in the empire, containing a university, churches, convents, and other public buildings, some of which are magnificent, and finished with much architectural taste and elegance. Immense quantities of grain are produced in this province,...