"Sales of clothing are held on certain days of the month, of precious stones on other days, and of pictures and statuary on others. While we were looking through the room devoted to sales, Doctor Bronson saw an article which he desired, and he at once offered to buy it at the price which was marked upon the card attached to it.
"'I must first offer it for sale,' said the official in charge of the place. 'The law requires that I shall do so.'
"So he held up the article and asked if anybody present would give more.
"It happened at the time that there was no one in the room but ourselves and the officials of the bank. The chances of any other offer were not great, as neither Frank nor myself was likely to make a higher bid. After a brief pause he handed the article over to Doctor Bronson and received the money—rather, I should say, he received the money and handed over the article, as the bank does not let anything out of its possession until the cash has been paid into the proper hands."
[CHAPTER XII.]
MEXICAN POLITENESS.—FREE GIFTS OF HOUSES AND OTHER PROPERTY.—AWKWARD MISTAKES.—AN ENGLISHWOMAN'S DILEMMA, AND HOW SHE GOT OUT OF IT.—UNCLE FREDDY AND THE GOVERNOR OF ACAPULCO.—THE GREAT MARKET; SIGHTS AND SCENES THERE.—ON THE CANAL.—EXTENSIVE LOCAL COMMERCE.—THE CHINAMPAS, OR FLOATING GARDENS.—AN EXCURSION ON THE LAKES.—SANTA ANITA, A PLACE OF RECREATION.—EXPERTS IN DIVING.—THE HILL OF ESTRELLA.—THE FESTIVAL OF FIRE; PRESCOTT'S DESCRIPTION OF THE FEARFUL CEREMONY.—FISHING IN THE LAKES.—THE AXOLOTL.—FISH OR REPTILE?—FLIES' EGGS AS AN ARTICLE OF FOOD.
