So, when we suggested that this, too, was loss of time, he had other brilliant plans, all quite as useless.

With the utmost difficulty we finally succeeded in getting him to arrange for animals to go to Papalo.

From the very start, the road was up-hill.
Passing first through a section covered with a magnificent growth of tree cactuses of two species, in fine fruit and flower, we found the vegetation varied as we mounted, and at last came up among the pines.
There was a great variety of landscape and geological formation.
Purple-red conglomerate, with horizontal layers weathered into massive forms; granitic schistose rocks, over which we later passed, gave their peculiar scenic outlines.

We climbed steadily for fully four hours, and then looked down, along a gently sloping hill trail, to our town, perched upon a slightly lower hill.

Just at the edge of the town, we passed a gang of men and boys at work, making a level platform for the new _plaza_ and town-house.