C Koford 1977 Journal 5 14 April 1977. To Comitan, Chiapas, Mexico growth. Cultivated 1/4 & plate. Jungle from fine in valley & hills. Small cliffs. River to 70' + muddy w. deadish water. Descended some to flatter area of San Cristobal de los Casas. New bus station & evidently increased tourism. Continued on thin power, to 70', 14" drain. l.b. Some goats. Mixed pine & large oaks. Town - Tropic? Then grew can to 2 tall. Cultivated plate. Up to pine & oak again. Large boulders in a few. Arrived only as safe to Comitan, 5 p.m. Quiet town w. friendly people, not apparently curious about gringos & backpackers. No bus s until tomorrow. So hiked N. out of town & camped at edge of sugarcane field. Ovenet, about dusk started to rain heavily. Biggest tent burrilly but did not shed water so got soaked. Retreated to a shack w. partial roof. Rain, thunder, lightning, stopped about 10 p.m. 5/6/77 To Panchimalco (Guat.) 15 April 1977. Followed new century woodpeckers, mocking bird, & few black vultures. Eids caught a green racer; released & saw quail. Dry brush & rough stone walls. Took 10 a.m. bus to border (12 p.m. ca.). Three darkman front, descending. Slowed Mexican tourist side. Just Guatemala was thickset. for $200. Id. 50¢ for shoe inspection (very serious). Buss to Huehuetenango, Soldado 700. Down steep winding steps well largely devoid of trees; some fine. Huehuetenango stop, then on to Escuintla (Soldado jet.). Small bus ($04) down to Solola (rather moist, many companies) & Panajachel (now grungier than nature, a dirty run down settlement. Found Long Street at some "Panda" (red gate, 29$5 wst; for "Mete - ambra") and talked w. him a couple of hours. He suggested going to El Panda, about 80 km S.W. of Guate city, & getting info on rides from loggers who worked NE of there. He also gave me a letter to Sr. Eugene Schwendener, Fermina "El Bello" in Gaval, who may have a fine inn site. E. of the Jaramillo. Over the "cumbre" N. of San Jeronimo there was a side road E. to Chilares, about 1800 m., which might be useful. Street thought entry from north side would be different. We stayed in town at Maya Panda,