Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-25
r:AN E, ling GIANTS OF sEns.
Stories of n Horrible People on an Island
in the Gulf of California


stories of Horrible People on an Island
in the Gulf of California.
There are ia giant cannibals, men and
women, living on Seri island, in the Gulf
OF California, and not sixty miles from the
mainland of Mexico" said George G. Nc
Namara at the Palace hotel
What | say might seem ridiculous, but
1t is nevertheless fact, for 1 have seen
some OF them during my travels in Mexico.
VINO their ancestors were or how long
they have occupied the island is not known,
but they are now becoming extinct
Il saw three women and one man, and
their appearance and manner gave me the
impression that they are brutes by nature
and brutes in heart and soul 1t was Just
by chance that saw them, as few of them
venture away from the island except to
sell the mats and shawls which they make
from the skins and feathers of the alba
tross. They are cunning thieves, but other
wise their minds are dublin fact they
seem stupefied. They have vacant stare
IN their eyes, and when not serious an
idiotic smile spreads over their faces.
The island of Seri is about twenty miles
long and at places ten miles wide, and l
was told no Mexican or white man ever
ventures near or attempts to land on it,
as they claim the island is their domain
and shoot the intruders with poisoned ar
rows or capture and eat them. They exist
on fish and goat meat, which are plentiful.
Low houses, built of shrubbery, are their
abode. Some live in ''dugouts,'' or caves
cut into banks. They roam about the
Island and lead the LATEST life of any peo-
pie that | have ever heard of. No one can
really tell what their daily routine If liv-
ing is, but it is a fact that the tribe Is dy-
ing out, and it will not be many years be-
fore they will become extinct.
Their mode of burial is not known, but
1t was estimated that where there are now
handful there were several thousand not
ten years ago, and if they bury the dead,
and do not burn the bodies, as cannibals
90, the bones of their enormous frames
Will cover a large area of the island.
The man photographed is over seven
feet in height. His face was study when
he saw the lens pointed at him, and he
could not understand what was being
done. He, as are all his race, was super
stitious, but we overcame that obstacle by
giving him a present of an old pair of
trousers, which he Immediately tied around
his neck. The gentleman standing next
to him is about six foot tall, and he had to
hold the Indians hand.
AN old rag encircled the upper portion
of the Indians limbs, and it was tied
around the waist. The blanket is made of
albatross skin and feathers. The bows and
arrows which he holds are the only weapon
they know of or use. His legs from the
knee down are not covered The hat he
wears is of straw, and he, as he stands
there, is the typical Seri Indian
The women wear patched dresses made
of cloth which they receive for albatross
mats and shawls. They are wrinkled and
old, very few girls being among the tribe.
The bowls on their heads contain broken
vessels made of clay
They are wonderful people," contin-
ued Mr.. Mcnamara" and no doubt their
past history, if revealed. will bring to light
facts that relate to the magnificent reign
of the Montezumas, or even far beyond
the time of Cortez. San Francisco Ex-
aminer.