New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-31
A STRANGE SAVAGE TRIBE.
CRUEL INHABITANTS OF AN ISLAND IN The
MEXICAN GUIF.

only a couple Of miles from the mainland OF inc
State OF sonora, and not over thirty mics i'"h
HermOsIllo the capital of the State, over winch thc
National or State authorities exercise no authority,
which has never been thoroughly explored, ana
which IS Inhabited by a race of Indians totally unlike
any other tribe of abOrigfncs In that part Oh inc
world Frank Oakley, who for some years a
resident OF the Guaymas and other Mexican places
on the Gulf Is I'm Los Angeles, and from MN nave
cleaned facts about this wretched htte Dt OF
savagedom, and It's wretched inhabitants, when
viii be Of interest MT only in themselves. but In tile
light they Mexcos indifference to its wards
though in view Of the condition Of many Of our own
Indians perhaps less said about that the better
The island is called Tburon, which means tn" shark
II very appropriate title when all its features are
understood. Its exact location Is between the 18th
and Goth degrees OF latitude and the 3lth degree Of
longitude.
"The island IS not large said Mr.. Oakley, its
extreme length being about twenty miles, and its
greatest width something like twelve miles 1t lies
off the coast Of sonora separated from the mainland
by strait only three miles wide Taking
ii as the fcs. II IS only about thirty miles
from the city of Hcrmo,o. 1t is inhabited by
tribe OF Indians of which less is known, perhaps,
than Of the Fuegans Of the southern Continent, and
who are fully low In the SOCIAL scale though not as
repusivc In features the lttor.
notwithstanding the short distance which sep
arates these Indians, who called Certs from the
mainland, the inhabitants Of that state know next
10 moth ng about them, and their island has never
been thoroughly explored account Of their hostility
to visitors have seen parties OF them occasionally
at Hermoso. and suburb u ulat city Is caien
after them Pueblo DE- Ceris.
"The island b. In appearance most uninvifing.
10 Is and barren. its fora suggestive Of It's
people, IA It CONSISTS chiefly of oac Of the tuna
and pltazn class which produce pricky pears
besnngas.T which By Arizonians in the desert are
called "niggc-heads'-thty are tMck, round caci
growing To the Size Of nve-gallon keys-mesquit
bplsrS. gressewood and stuntswood trees In q
few of the valleys, however 1t Is said that sycanores
grow and gies is 10 be found.
.Jack rabbits quail and rattlcsnakcS appear Ike the
Ceris 10 be natives Of the island, and burres' iew
cattle and "a great many dogs have been Imported Dy
the Indians a result OF their raids into sonora NO
one knows how many Indians their are on the island
but there are not Thought be over 500, and there
won't be that many very long, they arc dying ont
They live fish principally, and do not hesitate TO
eat those which have been cast up on the SANDS by
the sea- even II thcy are more or less decayed They
Will also eat any kind Of animal, not being paS
cuar whether 1t killed for that purpose or not
few years ago they were very hostile ana "ouid
not allow any one to land the island not even as
yet no exploring party has ventured to go any dis
lance inland SO forbiddng they and treach
erous They would TO the mainland occasion
ally and make f0rays the ranches but the ruties
punished them severely several tines and OF late they
have maintained a sullen sort Of good behavior. The
Mexicans have only naval vessel this const YOU
know the Democrata she IS called small pckety
wooden steamer but she Is wonder to these Indians,
and when she occasionally past they seem to e
aige that there I, power which could be brought TO
bear on them which they could not resist When they
visit IcmoSillo they always travel I'm squads, and sell
bows and and singing birds, and steal what they
Their nearest neighbors among the aborgnes are
the Cahula,. Of Lower California; the COwpohs OF
Lower Colorado and the laquis Of southern sonora,
but to these they bear resemblance. They
different in contour Of tho fce and head I'm size they
are smaller and In cleanliness industry and intellect
they are not 20 be compared and their language Is
totally different. ON the Island they most in
hospablc. and show 1t plainly. When parties are
not strong enough TO inspire respect they will not
be permitted to land at all, and l have heard of
several cases IN the last years OF the their
dcrng shpwrcckrd sailors who had sought refuge
their shores. As they are extremely treacleTous and
poisoned arrows for weapons, whose slightest
scratch means u horrible death, the MeNicans leave
them severely alone. Private individuals have no
business relations with them. and Government officials
can mako nothing out of them. As they have ceased
their raids into sonora the authorities do not bother
their heads aobut them and the priests many years
aso gave up ul hope OF converting them To Cathon
cisn. The last vessel which touched 1Jburon
the English mnn-ofwar Daphne, which was used in
survey OF tho Gulf in 1881, but none OF those
board after very brief experience, felt like making
further Investigations.
In former times the Celfs were in the habit Of
making trips as far down rs the environs Of Quay
mas and they would steal whatever came in their
way. from steer To "a burTO goat u
horse OF u mule 10 a dog or = cat, and would eat
their booty. They got the reputation %. being Cannl
balls II the occasion offered and would hdnap children
boldly In this manner II number Of little ones were
htnt fInip Ia fhaf ID
before the sayages were cowed and their fate
only be Surmscd. However, the mystery that
st live In Guaymas was explained "a few years ago.
The child the daughter Of Mexican family named
appeared = thorough search made for her but
trace discovered Of what had become Of her.
the Cer>. some eight or ten years ago "A Frenchnan
mined Joseph went on all abaone fishing expedition
schooner. BY the way. this Joseph had curious
history. lie had to sonor, with the Marquis do
Pendiay, and had managed 10 inSatate himself with
hlibuSters expedition ended disaStrousE. The vessel
happened 10 become becalmed oil Ttburon and of
the Indians came out IN their canoes for the purpose
OF trading for tobacco or corn.
In sufficient NUMBERS to be dangerous, Joseph in:
yited .,.;,oni few Of them on board Among MON:
spanish. aud she acted as an interpreter. Joseph.
while talking with her. thought that through rs
that OF her companions Her hair was not 50 coarse
and her features were not mcomely lie entered lto
conversation with her ana was surprised when she
told him that she from the coast. mu de mL0i'
rs she said. She knew that she had been stolen from
her parents by the Indians but who her people were
she had forgotten. by dint of questioning he learned
enough to himself that She had lived at uuiN
mas and that she was the child whose Disappearing
had for many years remained mystery. ms
sympathy aroused and he offered 10 rescue her,
take her on board Of his vessel and restore her "
her family. But. to his surprise. she absolutely ue
cllncd She had become, TO all mtents aud purposes.
Ceris Indian. She told him that she cared no lonsr
for her people. She had lived on the Island so iohs
that she knew other home no other Peopio.
All attempts to her interest In her molneI s W.
her sisters fruitless. She had merged ino .s
Indian life and had become In full sympa.hy va" a..
her captOrs. Furthermore she was married. d. t ,sa
ms marriage goes with those Indians ana was .he
wife, rather the property, Of medicine man o. ty
tribe who also chief. She had children anu s ,r
quite confronted with her life. All Josephs ,nb
to change her mind were " avail. ana gosrp ~