Great respect is shown the alligator, and curious superstitions prevail regarding it.
Between San Mateo and the nearest of the great lagoons, the country ceases to be level and is covered with sand dunes.

On these dunes there are great numbers of hares of a species peculiar to the locality.

They make excellent eating, and Manuel kept our larder supplied with fresh meat, which was welcome, and which we could not otherwise have had among these non-meat-eating folk.

An old Zapotec woman, seventy years of age, with snowy hair and gentle face, was deputed by the town authorities to do our cooking.

Her relatives live in Juchitan, and why she had chosen to live among these people I do not know.