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An.1685
The Coasting along.
good as his word. He proved afterwards a very fine Boy for Wit, Courage, and Dexterity ; I have often wonder'd at his Expreffions and Actions.
The 21st day in the evening we failed hence with the Land-wind. The Land-winds on this part of the Coaft are at N. and the Sea-winds at W.S.W. We had fair weather, and coafted along to the Weftward. The Land is high, and full of ragged Hills ; and Weft from thefe ragged Hills the Land makes many pleafant and fruitful Valleys among the Mountains. The 25th day we were abreft of a very remarkable Hill, which towring above the reft of its fellows, is divided in the top, and makes two fmall parts. It is in lat. 18 d. 8 m. North. The Spaniards make mention of a Town called Thelupan near this Hill, which we would have vifited if we could have found the way to it. The 26th day Captain Swan and Captain Townly, with 200 Men, of whom I was one, went in our Canoas to feek for the City of Colima, a rich place by report, but how far within Land I could never learn: for as I faid before, here is no Trade by Sea, and therefore we could never get Guides to inform us or conduct us to any Town, but one or two, on this Coaft : and there is never a Town that lieth open to the Sea but Acapulco ; and therefore our fearch was commonly fruitlefs, as now : for, we rowed above 20 leagues along fhore, and found it a very bad Coaft to land: we faw no Houfe, nor fign of In- habitants, although we paft by a fine Valley, called the Valley of Maguella: only at two places, the one at our firft fetting out on this Expedttion, and the other at the end of it, we faw a Horfeman fet, as we fuppofed, as a Centinel, to watch us. At both places we landed with difficulty, and at each place we followed the track of the Horfe on the fandy Bay; but where they entered the Woods we loft the track, and although we diligently fearcht for