498 GUAYMAS TO 
that the papers required the signature of the “ Captain 
of the Port,” who was at Colima, and positively refused 
to give them or sign them himself. A messenger was 
accordingly dispatched to that place again, and ordered 
to ride all night. A strong fair wind which was now 
blowing made this unexpected delay the more annoy- 
ing ; but we had no alternative and must quietly submit. 
This Colima, which so long detained us, is the capi- 
tal of a small state of the same name. It is said to 
contain 30,000 inhabitants, or half the population of 
the State. The city is remarkable in a historical point 
of view, having been founded by the “ Great Captain” 
or conqueror of Mexico, Cortez himself, between the 
years 1522 and 1524, after his return from Spain. The 
town of Zacatula, twenty-five leagues to the south on 
the coast, was also founded by Cortez. This isa place 
of little importance, containing only about two thou- 
sand inhabitants. 
January 25th. In the afternoon the messenger 
returned from Colima, bringing the papers for which we 
- had been detained. The captain went on shore to get 
them, when it appeared that the stupid officer, by mis- 
take had sent the passenger roll instead of the manifest 
and clearance papers to the collector. He was for dis- 
patching the messenger again with the proper papers; 
but the patience of Captain Nye, as well as of the pas- 
sengers, was now exhausted, and the captain declared 
that he would dance attendance no longer. We had 
been here a week, when a single day would have suf- 
ficed to discharge the portion of the cargo that was to 
be left at the place. The captain returned at once to 
the ship, and soon after got under weigh. 
