Page 252
An.1685
The Volcan and Valley of Colima.
for it, yet we could find it no more, fo we were perfectly at a lofs to find out the Houfes or Town they came from. The 28th day, being tired and hopelefs to find any Town, we went aboard our Ships, that were now come abreft of the place where we were : for always when we leave our Ships, we either order a certain place of meeting, or elfe leave them a fign to know where we are by making one or more great Smoaks : yet we had all like to have been ruin'd by fuch a fignal as this in a former Voyage under Captain Sharp, when we made that unfortunate attempt upon Arica, which is mentioned in the Hiftory of the Buccaneers. For upon the routing our Men, and taking feveral of them, fome of thofe fo taken told the Spaniards, that it was agreed between them and their Com- panions on board to make two great Smokes at a diftance from each other, affoon as the Town fhould be taken, as a fignal to the Ship, that it might fafely enter the Harbour. The Spaniards made thefe Smokes prefently: I was then among thofe who ftay'd on board : and whether the fignal was not fo exactly made, or fome other difcourage- ment happen'd, I remember not: but we forbore going in, till we faw our fcatter'd Crew coming off in their Canoas. Had we entred the Port upon the falfe fignal we muft have been taken or funk ; for we muft have paft clofe by the Fort, and could have had no Wind to bring us out, till the Land- wind fhould rife in the night.
But to our prefent Voyage: After we came a- board we faw the Volcan of Colima. This is a very high Mountain, in about 18 d. 36 m. North, ftanding 5 or 6 leagues from the Sea, in the midft of a pleafant Valley. It appears with 2 fharp peeks, from each of which there do always iffue flames of fire or fmoke. The Valley in which this Volcan ftands is called the Valley of Colima, from the Town itself