494 GUAYMAS TO 
when a few miles intervene between it and the coast, 
the appearance from the sea is the same. Hence the 
openings of the various ports and harbors are difficult 
to detect, except where some bold promontory juts 
out into the ocean, or some island or rock is found 
near. The opening of Manzanillo Bay would not be 
observed by a passing vessel. But the bearings of the 
volcanoes, two well defined and lofty peaks, some forty 
miles in the interior, and the rocky island alluded to, 
conduct the mariner to the spot. We reached the 
entrance just at dusk; but as there was no chart of 
the bay, and several bold rocks showed themselves, 
the captain thought it prudent to stand off till morn- 
ing. 
January 18th. The morning found us becalmed 
some ten miles from shore. This was provoking, but 
there was no help. Fortunately in the afternoon a 
light breeze sprang up, and at five o’clock we came to 
anchor in the Bay of Manzanillo. 
January 19th. The custom-house officer would not 
permit the cargo to be discharged until the ship’s 
papers were sent to Colima, where the collector resides. 
When this was intimated last evening to Mr. Mejer, 
the owner, he procured mules and set off at once to 
attend to the matter personally. Colima lies on the 
opposite side of a low range of mountains which cannot 
be crossed ; so that though but thirty miles distant in 
a direct line, it is between ninety and a hundred by 
the mule path, which is the only route to it. The day 
was exceedingly hot, so that I did not leave the vessel. 
January 20th. To-day, although it continued very 
hot, I went on shore; the place consists of some twenty 
