For my own part, I dislike mules; Ernst and the doctor, however, were loud in their praise of such a beast; both asserted that a good mule should sell for double its cost on our arrival at Guatemala City.

When, finally, after inspecting a variety of animals we found one lively, young one, the doctor was delighted.

Taking me to one side, he informed me that such an opportunity was unlikely to occur again.

I yielded and the little mule was ours.

We named the three animals Mixe, Zapotec, and Chontal, from three tribes through whose country we expected to pass.
The doctor's helpfulness was not confined to advice regarding mules.