Page:Narrative of a Voyage around the World - 1843.djvu/90

 42 ten tons of water and one bullock; and at midnight were again en route.

The bay is small, but safe, anchorage good, water brackish. There are no houses, — men and families living exposed under the trees, and had not the Leonora been there, it is probable that we should not have met a soul.

This port is the main sea communication with the city of Colima, thirty leagues, or eighteen hours travel from hence, and containing a population of thirty-eight thousand.

The following was kindly furnished by a friend, who at the moment was on business at Colima.

"This port has a good anchorage, and is well protected against the southerly winds prevalent during the rainy reason, but, on account of a very considerable lake of stagnant water in its immediate neighbourhood, is very unhealthy during- the summer. Infested by myriads of mosquitoes and sand flies, even in the dry season, it is nearly impossible to reside there.

"This port has been open to foreign commerce for several years, but has not been able to make much progress. The port itself has not a single house, and the first adjacent town is Colima, formerly the capital of the territory bearing the same name, now embodied with the department of Michoacan.

"Colima, it is true, is a large town, of considerable