Milford chronicle., 1891-06-19
NAN EATING CAMS Of sERL
s.orls. q a norrIDIs FsopIs O an I.Ian

Stories OF Horrible People on an Island
in the Gulf Of California.
e'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
it is nevertheless a fact, for / have seen
some Of them during my travels in Mexico.
! Who their ancestors were or how long
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 ara bruues by nature
and brutes in heart and soul It was just
by chance that ] saw them, as few of them
venture away from the island except 20
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 stupefed. They have a 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
was told no Mexican OF 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," OF 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 Of liv-
ing is but it is fact that the tribe is tly- |
ing out and it will not be many years be- |
fore they will become extinct.
''Their mode Of burial is not known, but /
it was estimated that where there are now |
a handful there were several thousand not /
ten years ago, and if 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 photographed is over seven
feet in height. His face was a 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
but we overcame that obstacle by
giving him a present Of an old pair Of
WHICH he Immediately tied around
his neck. The gentleman standing next
10 him is about six foot tall, and he had to
hold the Indians hand.
IAN old rag encircled the upper portion
IF the Indians limbs, and it wss~ tied
around the waist. The blanket is made of
llbatross skin and feathers. The bows and
arrows which he holds IRE the only weapon
hey 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
here, is the typical Seri Indian.
t"rhe women Wear patched dresses made |
# cloth which they receive for albatross
mats and shawls. They are wrinkled and
Id, very few girls being among the tribe
The bowls on their heads contain broken
essels made of clay.
'Hhey are a wonderful people," contin-
ed Mr.. Mcnamara, " and no doubt their
asst history, if revealed, viii bring to light
acts that relate to the magnificent reign
+ the MOntezumas, or even far beyond
be time of Cortez. San Francisco Elk
miner.