Here we found ourselves again upon the low coast road.

It was, however, our last point of low altitude, as from there we struck inland over a higher, cooler, and more interesting mountain road.

At Zanatepec we first saw the _marimba_ played.

This musical instrument, unquestionably African in name and origin, is hardly found north of Chiapas, but is extremely common through Central America.

It consists of a wooden frame supporting keys made of wood and metal, each of which gives forth its own note when struck with small hammers.