The morning times., 1896-02-08
AMONG THE SERI INDIANS
Mr. McGee Tells Of His Desperate
Visit to Cannibals.
Under Auspices OF Bureau of EthnoI
ogy-White Men Never Returned
Alive From Similar Trips.

semi-monthly Friday evening lectures un-
der the auspices OF the National G. Geographic
Society was given by III. j. MCGEE of the
Burean OF American Eihnology, Illustrated
with stercopiicon views and entitled ~
sojourn in seriland; explorations among
he hostile savageS OF the Gulf OF Caiifor-
MA
Metzerott Hall, where the lecture was
given, was fairly well filled with members
OF the society and others, who were inter-
es.ed in hearing the experiences Of one of
he party OF white men who first invaded
The territory Of the seri Indians. and who
made the First survey aud map Of this
wide region by exploration OF it.
Mr.. Mctiee returned from this mission
January 10. With him ON the expedition
10 Seriland were William D. johnson and
j. w. Mitchell OF Washington. S. c.. Mil
lard Of Los Angeles, two MexicaDs and
six Iudians.
seriand is cast OF the Gulf of California
ard far south of the GiIa River, in the
State OF Sonora, Mexico. and u portion of
ii is on the island of Tiburon, separated
from the mainland by narrow strait
On the island are 600 square miles of terri
tory, and on the mainland $500 square
as scriiand, and for centuries ha IS supposed
10 have meant certain death to the man
who would venture to trcSpass upon it,
What people know OF these Indians is
what they have seen Of them ON the border
of their domain. They cross over into the
civilized portion of Sonora frequently, but
the conditions are not reversed. A wide
plain separates seriland from the more
l. H. HI
almost impossible by man.
The lecturer said that when il was learned
party were going into the unknown land
OF the hostile sarages, the governor OF
Sonora sent a message that it must not
be undertaken, as it would result in the
death OF all. Others protested against it,
but the outfit started and they were sue
cessful in the venture. although many hard
ships were endured.
He said that one of the set principles of
seri is 10 kill at sight any member OF
another race or tribe than his own. This
had been so even before Coronado
attempted TO explore the region. They saw
Seri Indians on the border, and secured
photographs of them, but after they had
entered their land the savages kept out
OF the way all the time. They would
abandon their homes and towns as the
initial party OF explorers approached. They
did not get near Indians in their own
land.
There is no river in Seriland. There is
but one feeble stream, and its waters
are eyaporated before reaching the gulf.
Vegetation is scant and peculiar, the sur
face being rough and almost barren. There
are many varieties of cactus, one OF
which is called the wen of tie desert. from
the fact that good. pure water can be
secured from it. There are some springs,
hut they are widely separated from each
other. The party carried water from
seven to fifteen miles to their various
camps from these springs. He said they
found out what thirst is, something but
few people, fortunately, ever discover.
But by This continued term of hardship
they secured an accurate topography of
the country and learned much OF the do
mestic habits of the seri.
After exploring the mainland they con-
structed boat ard made the trip suc-
cessfully TO the Island of Tiburon.
Here they saw many Villages of the re-
pnted man-eatiHg tribes. They construct
their hnts by bending saplincs ard making
Il CONeTlug OI ludtCueQ pOuEtiS duu SkltlS
Turtles, oysters and sea food re the
articles of diet mostly used. and everything
is eaten raw. Where q family had been
| stationed eating something without knives
| they found was the fly-biown carcass of a
horse. which. from various indications,
had been dead fully three days.
Mr.. MeGee doubts that the Serl are
cannibals, but he is certain of their de-
sire to kill all men except their own.
They have few guns, and occasionally
man with a hat is seen, but these are
| the ones nearest the border.
They do not bud their houses near fresh
water, but by the shores, for the reason,
he thinks, that they consider it more
economical to carry water than to carry
food.
He says that now there are not more
than $50 of them. only about seventy OF
these being warriors, the remainder being
women, children and old men. But a short
time ago there were 1000 of them. They
are the most irrecoucilable 10 civilization
of any sayages on the American continent.
The lecture lasted an hour ard was
listened to with intense interest throughout.