Although we were assured that no animals from the town could accompany us further than the first _ranchito_ in the mountains, named San Bernardino, they assured us that fresh animals could be obtained there for the remainder of the journey.
Going to the regular hotel in the village, we found the prices higher than in Oaxaca or Puebla, and equal to those of a first-class hotel in Mexico itself.

As the landlady seemed to have no disposition to do aught for us, we decided to look elsewhere.

At a second so-called hotel we found a single bed.

At this point, a bystander suggested that Don Pedro Barrios would probably supply us lodging; hastening to his house, I secured a capital room, opening by one door directly onto the main road, and by another, opposite, onto the large _patio_ of his place.

The room was large and clean, and four good cots were soon in place.