He at once demanded whether it was not my intention to measure the women.

He said that he had been to see the _jefe_, and that the _jefe_ said my wishes must be obeyed.

I asked him where it was proposed to measure the women, and he replied that it should be wherever I pleased.

"Very good," said I."We will measure them in the court-yard of the _jefe's_ palace; have subjects brought there at once, and send a man to my hotel for my instruments." To the palace we went, and thither shortly four policemen brought a woman from the market.

With bad grace, she submitted to be measured, after which the four policemen went again to the market, and soon after reappeared with a second subject.