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 is a place 
of little importance, containing only about two thou- 
sand inhabitants. 
January 2^th. 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. 
