Upon this trail we found our first swinging foot-bridges made of _lianas_, or vines, hanging from trees.

These are, of course, only suitable for foot-travellers, but are a great convenience, where streams are likely to be swollen.

Two or three long and slender vines, laid side by side and lashed together, form the footway, which is swung from one tree to another; other _lianas_ are stretched across as side rails, smaller vines being twined in between and around them to hold them in place; long vines, pendant from the high branches of the supporting trees, are fastened to the upper rails to steady and anchor these frail bridges, which swing and yield with every weight.
[Illustration: TREE FERN IN TROPICAL FOREST; QUEZALTEPEC] [Illustration: CASCADE, NEAR QUEZALTEPEC] Ixcuintepec is upon one of the most abrupt ridges of this whole district.

We went first to the schoolhouse, where our animals were to be guarded in a little open space before it; then we walked over to the _curato_ which was being prepared for us.

We had ordered _zacate_ (fodder) for our animals and had divided it suitably between them.