We were compelled to do our work in the mornings; in the afternoons everyone was drunk and limp and useless in the operator's hands.
We slept and ate at the house of the _presidente_, an old _mestizo_ of rather forbidding manners but kindly spirit.

Our cases came rather slowly and a deal of coaxing, argument, and bribes were necessary to secure them.

Here we gave a trifle, a few _centavos_, to each subject.
The policy was bad, and we abandoned it with reference to all subsequent populations.

Naturally the natives were hostile to our work.

They thought that we were measuring them for their coffins; that they would be forced into the army; that disease would result; that an uncanny influence was laid upon them; that witchcraft might be worked against them.