The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-06-06
GIANT cANNrBALs.
An Indian Tribe Of Man-Eatsrs' who n.
habit Mexican Island.

habit n Mexican Island.
There are ia giant cannibals, men
and women, living on Serl island. In
the Gulf OF California, and not sixty
miles from the mainland OF Mexico.
said George G. McNamara to San
Francisco Examiner reporter.
What say might seem ridiculous.
but 1t 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 arc nov
becoming extinct.
II saw three women and. one man.
and their appearance and mannepgave
me the impression that they are brutc3
by nature and brutos in heart and soul.
1t was just by chance that / saw them.
as few OF them venture away from tn,
island except to sell tho mats AMI
shawls which thoy make from tn,
skins and feathers OF the alba.ro5n.
They arc cunning thiovc3. but other
wise their minds are dull-in flct they
seem stupefel. They have u wasn't
stare in their Dyes, AMI. VIII IN MT
serious, an idiotic smilo spreads ovor
their faces.
THE island OF Seri is about tw >nty
miles Ion and ut places ton miles wide.
and | was told no Mexican or Wits
man eve: ventures near or attempts to
land on it, us they claim tbs island il
their domain. and shoot tne int,ule y
with poisoned arrows o. ca 'turo and
eat them. They oyist on fish and go g
meat, which are ploatiful. Low hoise,,
built OF shru5bery, are their aoode.
Some live in 'lugouts, or caves cuS
into banks Thcy roam about tho
island and lead the Latest life OF any
people that have ever heard of. No
one can really tell what tn sii daily
routine of living Il, but 1t is u fact thai
the tribe is dying out, and it will not
be many years bo.orc thoy will become
extinct.
Their mole of burial is not known.
but it is estimated that where there
are now handful there were several
thousands 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
large area OF the island.
The man photographed is over
feet in height. His face was 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 to him is
about 6 feet tall. and he had to hold
the Indians hand. An old rag encir-
cled the upper portion OF the Indians
limbs, and it 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
wrinkled and old, very few girls being
among the tribe. The bowls on their
heads contain broken vessels made of
clay.
They are a wonderful people,"
continued Mr.. Mcnamara. land 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 the time OF
Cortez."