We told him we wanted guides to the cave, which he knew as well as we did; but instead of answering, he began to talk to the Alcalde.

We quite appreciated the pleasure it must have been to the two functionaries to show off before us and their assembled countrymen, who were looking on at the proceedings with great respect; and we had not minded affording them this cheap satisfaction; but at last the joke seemed to be getting stale, so we proceeded some to sit and some to lie down at full length, and to go on eating limes in the presence of the August company.

Thereupon they informed us what would be the cost of guides and candles, and we eventually made a bargain with them and started on foot.
On looking at the map of the State of Mexico, there is to be seen a river which stops suddenly on reaching the mountains of Cacahuamilpan, and begins again on the other side, having found a passage for itself through caves in the mountain for six or seven miles.

Not far from the place where this river flows out of the side of the hill, is a path which leads to the entrance of the cave.

A long downward slope brought us into the first great vaulted chamber, perhaps a quarter of a mile long and eighty feet high; then a long scramble through a narrow passage, and another hall still grander than the first.