Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-05-22

An indian Tribe of Man Eaters Who Tn.
habit "a Mexican Island.

habit u Mexican Island.
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. Mcnamara to a San
Francisco Examiner reporter.
What l say might seem ridiculous,
but it is nevertheless fact, for l have
seen some of them during my travels
in Mexico. Who their ancestors were
or how hong they have occupied the
island is not known, but they are now
becoming extinct.
II 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 albatross.
They are cunning thieves, but other
wise their minds are dull-in fact they
seem stupefed. 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 ut places ten miles wide,
and | 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 arrows 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
people that i have ever heard of. No
one can really tell what their daily
routine of living j., but it is a fact that
the tribe is dying out and it will not
be many years before they will become
extinct
Their mode OF burial is not known.
but it is estimated that where there
age now handful there were several
thousands not ten years ago, and il
they bury the dead, and do not burn
the bodies, as cannibals do. the bones
of their enormous frames will cover a
large area of the island.
The man l photographed is over
feet in height. His face was n study
when he saw the lens pointed ut him,
and he could not understand what was
being done. He, as are all his race,
was superstitious, but we overcame
that obstacle by giving him present
of an old pair of trousers. which he
Immediately tied around his neck. The
gentleman standing next 10 him is
about d Feet tall, and he had TO hold
the Indians hand. An old rag cncir-
cled the upper portion of the Indian
limbs and il was tied around the In
dams waist The blanket is made OF
albatross skin and feathers. The bow
and arrows which he holds are the
only Weapons 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
wrin)tled and old, very few girls being
among the tribe. The bowls on their
heads contain broken vessels made Of
clay.
They are wonderful people,"
continued Mr.. Mcnamara. "and no
doubt their past history, if revealed,
will bring to light facts that relate to
the magnificent reign of the Monte
zumas, or even far beyond tie time OF
Cortez