Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-05-11
NAVIGATING GIANTS.
sTonIrs or \ HORRIBLE PEOPLE Liv.
INu ON An ISLAND ~ TIM
uuIF OF CALIFORNIA.


"Thorc are ia giant cannibals, men
aud women, living on Sell island In
the Gulf " California, aud not sixty
said George u. McNamnra 10 an m.
oD,inor reporter Mt the Palace hotel last
night.
"what I say might seem ridiculous,
but II II nevertheless n fact, for | have
seen some Of them during my travels
In Mexico. Who their ancestors were
or how long they have occupied the
Island u not known, but they arc now
becoming extinct.
81 saw three women and ono man,
and their appearance aud manner gave
me the impression that they are brutcs
by nature and briies In heart and soul.
II was Just by chance TINT saw them,
as few of them venture away from tho
island except 10 sell the mats and
shawls which they make from the
rkins aad feathers Of the aiLatross.
They are cunning thieves, but other.
Wise their minds are dull--,hey seem
stupoiied. They have n vacant stare
In their eyes, and when not serious. an
idiotic smile spreads over their faces.
"The Island Of Seri IL about twenty
miles long and nj places ten miles
wide, and was told no Mexican or
white man ever ventures near or Mt.
tempts TO land ON It; as they claim the
island Is their domain, anu shoot the
intruders with poisoned arrows or cap.
turo and eat them. They exist on fsh
and goat meat, which are plentiful.
Low houses, built Of shrubbcry, are
their abode. Some liy. In 'dugouts, ,
or caves cut Into banks. They roam
about the Island aud lead the --latest
III. 81 any people TINT | have ever
heard Of No one eau really tell what
their daily routine Of living IN, tut IL Ia
fact that the tfibe Is dying out, and Il
will not be many yeas before they
Will become extinct.
"rheir mode OF burial In not known,
but II was estimated that where there
arc now handful there We're several
thousand not ton yoam ago, and II they
bury the dead, aud do not burn tho
bodies M cannlbals 10, the bones OF
their enormous frames will cover a
large area Of the island.
The man photographed IL over
seven feet In height. His face WIS a
study When he saw the lens pointed
toward him, aud lie could not under.
stand what was being done. lie, as
arc all his race, was superstitious, but
We overcsme that obstacls by giving
him u present ofan old pair oftrousers,
which he Immediately tied around his
neck The gentleman standing next
10 him IL about six feet tall, AMI he had
TO mold the Indians hand. An old
rag enclrcledthe upper portion OF the
Indians Limits, and II was tied arou nd
the waist. Tho blanket ia made Of
aIbatross skin and feathers. The bow
and arrows which he holds are tho
only weapon they know Of or use. His
legs from the la.ee down are not GOV.
cred. The hat he wears Is OF straw
aud he, IN he stands there, IL the
typical 5eri Indian.
"rhe women wear patched dresses
made Of cloth which they receive for
albatross mats aud shawls. They are
wrinkled aud old, very few girls being
among the tribe. The bowls on their
heads contain broken vessels made OF
clay.
"They are u wonderful people. d" con.
unued Mr.. Mcnamara, "and no doubt
their past history, II revealed, will
bring TO light facts that relate 10 the
magnificent reign Of the Montekumas,
or even far beyond the time Of Cor,ez.''
--.San Francisco EIdmmer.