He longed more than ever for the open plains, even with dust and thirst.
Already they saw the mountains rising before them, terrace after terrace, and, three days after the encounter with the jaguar, they began to ascend the middle slopes between the tierra caliente and the lofty sierras.

The whole character of the country changed.

The tropical jungle ceased.

They now entered magnificent forests of oak, pine, plane tree, mimosas, chestnut and many other varieties.

They also saw the bamboo, the palm and the cactus.