The Vara, = 43·7 inches, is of 5 spans; the Braça, or fathom, is 2 varas or 10 spans; 3000 fathoms make a league, = 3·89 miles, divided into 3 milhas of 8 estados, stadia or furlongs. In land-measure 4840 square varas make a geira (= 1·47 acre) exactly, as 4840 square yards make our acre. One may infer that the form and division of the geira was similar to that of our acre; that it is, or was, 220 × 22 varas, a 1/10 strip of some ‘acreme’ measure. This view is supported by the use in Brazil of a land-unit, the quadro, officially 150 × 1 metres; a strip of an original square quadro corresponding to the 10-geira field. In Argentina the cuadra is 150 varas, and the cuadra cuadrada, 4·17 acres, is that measure squared.
Portugal has another span, the palmo avantejado = 9·0256 inches, of which 3 make a covado or cubit = 27·078 inches, virtually the Flemish ell of English standard.
3. Russia and the East
Russia
The standard of length is the English foot, introduced by Peter the Great. There is another and older measure, the Arshīn = 28 inches, i.e. the Turkish arshīn of 27·9 inches varied to a simple relation with the new foot; and like the Turkish measure it is divided into 16 nails (Verstok). See ‘Arshīn,’ further on.
3 Arshīns = 1 Sajeng = 7 feet.
500 Sajeng = 1 Verst = 1166·6 yds. (1·06 kilometre).
Turkey
The Arshīn or Halebi pík = 27·9 inches.
5-1/2 Arshīns = 1 Qasáb.