The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12
LATE REVELATIONS ABOUT The TlBlRON ISLAND

GUAYMAS Sonora, Dec. st seems
pity to destroy the loved fiction of the
fierce, war-like character and alleged can
nabalistic tendencies of the Seri Indians
who infest the island OF Tiburon in the
Gulf of California. Lurid stories have
been told of these Indians, and still N ore
lurid pictures published until it became
the proper thing to shudder when their
name was mentioned. Consul Long of
Nogales lately contributed his quota to
The stories, and it may be stated TO the
credit OF Consul Long that he sat n his
little consulate at NOgales and deliber-
ateIy wrote a story which should give him
leading position on any saffron journal
in the country Long made these Indians
out 10 he about the most perfect physical
and mental spec: of humanity now
extant. There was no virtue with which
he did not endow them, and the only vice
ascribed to them was a vitiated taste for
human flesh. He closed his eulogy on
the Seris, by declaring that the women of
the tribe, in addition TO suYerb forms,
also possessed fair, reachy compilations,
sky blue eyes and auburn hair shot with
gold.
The concluding paragraph settled it.
Every reporter on the daily papers sud-
denly developed a thirst for cannibas,
and put in much time convincing their
mana.ing editors that details should be
given them TO visit this island and roast
the Seris.
My object has been to ascertain and
print the truth about the Seris, and only
the truth goes in this article. l can sum
up the results of my investigations as fol-
lows:
First-The Seris are not cannibals, but
a horse which has been dead for nine days
appeals to them very strongly, and it car
be said that they are highly favorable to
pamy flavor.
Second-While they are tall and can run
like deer, they are fat-chested and thin
and are rapidly succum bing 10 consump-
ton.
Third-Thev are not brave and warlike
They will murder one or two men who
invade their island, but if party Of six
or eight armed men go to the island no
Indian can be found. They will seek the
mountain Businesses of their native isle
and no amount of searching will discover
them.
Fourth-The women are, alas as unpre-
as the world can boast.
Fif;h-The Seris can be set down as a
treacherous, cowardly, mean, ugly, mis-
cradle set of vagabonds.
l came to Mexico bearing letters from
General Guiilermo Andrade, Mexican
Consul at Los Angeles, TO Senior Don Ra-
fael Ruiz and Senior PasquaI Encinas,
both of HermosilIo. The former gentle
man was absent and, while 1 received
nice trea lment at the hands of his son.
Rafael Jr., it was from Mr. Encinas that [
was enabled TO get much information bout
the willy Seris.
Mr.. Encinas owns a magnificent cattle
ranch about twentv miles from Tiburon,
and he has long Ljoyed the acquaintance
OF the Seris. About half the males of the
tribe work for him when he will allow
them, which is seldom, because they are
lazy and stupid. Mr.. Enc,nas treated the
Indians well, but, true 10 the Ind an ma
tuTe, they repaid MS kindness by stealing
his cattle IN punches of ten per night. Mr..
Encinas then adopted meth DDS which re-
suited in materially decreasing the num-
Der OF Serls and giving the remaining rem
nant a most holy res pect for him. So great
is this veneralioh that Mr.. Encinas, al
though so years of age and blind, Is willing
to goon the island and single-handed drive
all the Seris into the sea.
These Indians have never been known