Our plan of journey for the year was first to make an expedition from Oaxaca to the north-west, into the Mixteca Alta; returning to Oaxaca, to strike eastward by way of Mitla, and the land of the Mixes, to Tehuantepec, from which place we should make a brief trip to the Juaves; returning to Tehuantepec, we should take the high road, by way of San Carlos, back to Oaxaca.  Our first duty in the city of Oaxaca was to procure letters and orders from the governor.  No governor in Mexico more completely realizes his importance and dignity than Governor Gonzales of Oaxaca.  It is ever difficult to secure an audience with him; appointment after appointment is made, only to be broken when the inquiring visitor presents himself, and has been kept waiting an undue length of time.  We had been through the experience before, and therefore were not surprised that it required four visits, each of them appointed by the governor himself, before we really had our interview.  Governor Gonzales, is, however, an excellent officer.  While we were waiting for our letters, after having explained to him our errand and plan of procedure, we had the opportunity to see a somewhat unusual and interesting sight.  Like all public buildings and better-grade houses in Mexican cities, the governor’s palace is built about patios, or inner courts.  A wide balcony surrounds the court at the level of the second story and upon it the rooms of that story open.  Having given orders that our letters should be prepared, the governor excused himself for a few moments, as he said that certain of his local authorities were ordered to meet him.  We were seated where we could watch the reception.  As we had entered the palace we had been impressed by the great number of indians, carrying official staves, who were waiting near the door.  We now found that they were official delegates from the different towns, and that they had been sent from their homes to give the governor New Year’s greetings.  Having carefully arrayed himself for the meeting, the governor took his position in the wide balcony already referred to, with two officials of the palace stationed near, one on either side.  The Indians represented perhaps twenty-five different towns, the delegation from each town varying from three or four to fifteen or twenty persons.  All were dressed in their cleanest garments, and all carried their long staves of office, most of which had ribbons of bright colors streaming from them.  The secretary of the governor arranged these delegations in their order, and they were presented one by one to the chief executive.  As each delegation was presented, its members scraped and bowed, and the presidente and secretario kissed the governor’s hand.  A word or two of greeting having been exchanged, the spokesman from the village made a speech, sometimes read from a written copy, after which he presented a bouquet of flowers, real or artificial.  The governor received the bouquet with a bow, placed the