The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-04

PROBABLY A LOST TRIBE.
The Last Of a Race Of Giant Indian
Man Eaters Of Old
Mexico.
Their Ancestors Are Not known
and Their Future Can
Be Measured.
Repulstve Creatures In Bath Form and
---A--- MI r.ynvnH ~ GnNl
Rcpuistve Creatures In Bath Form and
Feature-The Island OF Seri.
Where They Live.

ssThere are liza giant cannibals, men n
women, living on Seri Island, in the gulf OF
California, a ndnot sixty miles from the
mainland OF Mexico" said George &. Nc
Namara to a San Francisco Examiner re-
porter. "What l 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 ia not known. but
they are now becoming extinct.
II saw three women and II man and
their appearance and manner gave me the
impression that they are brutes BY nature
and brutes in heart and soul.S 1t was just
by chance TINT l saw them, as few of them
venture away from this island except to sell
the mats and shawls which they make from
the skins and feathers of the albatross.
They are cunning thieves, but otherwise
their minds are dull-in fact they seem
supplied. They have a vacant stare IN their
ewes, and, when not serious, an ldlotic
smile spreads over their faces.
1.-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 1t, as
shoot the intruders with poisoned arrows
or capture and eat them. They exist Gu
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 load the LATEST life OF any people That
I have ever heard of. No one can really
tell what their daily routine of living is,
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
il was estimated that where there are now a
handful there were several thousand not
ten wears ago, and il they bury the dead
and do not burn the bodies. as cannlbals
do. the bones of their enormous frames
will covsr a large area of the island.
1.-The man l photographed IS over seven
feet in height. His face was q study when
he saw the lens pointed at him. and he could
not understand what was being he'
as is all his race, was superstitioue, but we
oyercame that obstacle by giving him a pres
ent of an old pair of trousers, which he i'm
medlately tied around his neck. The gen
tleman standing next to him ls about SIX
feet tall, and he had to hold the Indians
hand. An old rag encircled the upper por-
ton of the Indians limbs, and it was tied
around the waist. The blanket is made OF
albatross skin and feathers. The bow and
arrows which he kolos 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 re-
ceiye for albatross mats and shawls. They
nrs wrinkied and old, very few girls being
among the tribe. Tn bowls on their heads
contain broken vessels made of clay. They
are a wonderful people, 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.s