We had intended to make an early start, but it was half past six before we mounted and were on our way.

Going back over the old road, we soon reached the little coffee _finca_ in charge of our Mixtec friend, and here we left the familiar trail, for what our guide insisted was a better one.

We struck up and up and up the slope to avoid little ravines which he assured us were very bad.

At last, when it was certain that he had completely lost his way, we started down into the forest.

For a time we followed a bad and disused trail, but soon even this disappeared, and we tore our way through the tropical vegetation as best we could.