were fast asleep within five minutes.  Manuel assisted the local cook in preparing dinner, while we talked with visitors until the meal was ready.  The houses of San Pedro are well constructed of stone, set in adobe, and have well-thatched roofs.  The granaries, or cuezcomates, are of unusual size and well built.  They range from six or eight feet in height to twelve or more, and are shaped like great urns, open at the top, which is protected by a thatch, generally two-pitched.  The temascals were also unusually well built of stone, and frequently were neatly covered with white plaster.  Soon after leaving San Pedro, in the afternoon, we came upon two indian boys digging in the ground.  Inquiring what they were doing, we learned that they were hunting honey-ants, and in a moment our whole party was engaged in the same operation.  These ants were found some inches below the surface, either singly, or in roundish holes containing half a dozen or more; the abdomen was swelled until it was as round as a pea and as large as a fair-sized currant, and was filled with honey.  To get the sweet liquid, one takes the insect by the head or forward body and pressing the honey bag sucks out the contents.  It is sweet and rich, with a little twang, as if fermented, and people in the district call it honey-wine.  Three quarters of an hour brought us to San Francisco, though we had to go down and up two large barrancas before we reached the town.  It was almost sunset when we arrived.  Sitting down before the town-house, we sent for the agente.  Soon after our arrival the church-bell rang furiously, and the din and clangor was kept up a long time.  While waiting for the official, supper was prepared, though we had had some difficulty in arranging for it, and were in doubt as to where we were to spend the night.  Before supper was ready, a motley crowd poured into the room in which we sat.  One large fellow carried a great sword strapped at his side, another bore a short sword, another a knife, another a large and ancient gun.  Probably there were other weapons not in sight.  This group of indians was the agente and his guardia.  We were objects of suspicion, and much argument, and an abundant supply of huitzatl—­strong drink—­were necessary, before we secured permission to spend the night at the house where we were to have supper.  No sooner had this company withdrawn and supper been eaten, than we prepared for bed.  One wooden bed, with a mat of rushes, served for Senor Quechol and myself.  A second mat, laid on the floor, formed the bed for our four companions.  In the morning, we took a walk to Akxotla, where we wished to see an ancient painting.  Here we encountered greater suspicion than before, and, after wasting the greater part of the day, accomplished nothing.  It is true an indian made a camalpa for us.  This is a stringed musical instrument; though the name is Aztec, it is unlikely that it was known before the coming of the Spaniards.  Quechol says the word means mouth-harp, coming from the Aztec cam, mouth, and the Spanish harpa, harp.  We returned to San Francisco for our dinner, and at four o’clock again started on our journey.