The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-07-11
A RACE OF GIANTS.
wonderful People who Iahabtt n
Island In the Gulf Of Cal.
lfOPnla.

I1DurOn Is an isSdHu III Nie Nuii vi
California. Until 1873, when Com
mander (now AdmiraD George Dewey
was sent there to make surveys, it was
O region shrouded in mystery. During
the greater part of the year il is re.
eorted to by the Seri Indians, race Of
ciants who inhabit the adjacent main
land. They are reputed TO be extreme
" suspicious and warlike, using pol
soned arrows to oppose the landing Of
foreigners on their shores. Dewey re-
ceived several visits from them. AL
though hostile at first, they became very
friendly, says Youths Companion.
A monograph on the Seri Indians Is
soop to be published by the bureau Of
ethnology. 1t is from the pen Of Prof.
VI. MCGEE. who himself led a govern
ment expedition into their country.
They are wonderful navigators, and
have need to be, for between the island
of Tiburon and the mainland is mar
now strait appropriately called In
fiernillo by the early Spanish explorers.
The waters of the gulf rush into this
passage through funnel-shaped bay,
and the tides pour through it in such
a manner as to make it one Of the most
tumultuous bits of sea in the world.
A safe crossing can be made only oc-
casionally, the only boat suitable for the
passage being the balsa, a native raft
like canoe constructed of long reeds
bound together with string. In this
primitive craft the SeTi paddle fearless
ly over the waters Of the gulf in search
Of water fowl, for food, and of pelicans,
which they hunt for their skins.
Raids ON the pelicans are undertaken
on a still evening, when there is no
moon and the weather is not too stormy.
The hunters set out at twilight, and
when the island is reached balsas are
left in charge of the women. Ihile the
warriors and larger boys rush upon the
roosting birds and slaughter them with
clubs. The skins of the peHcans are
sewn together to make robes, from four
to eight being required for one gar
ment
The Indians are said to have a curl
ous way of making the pelicans catch
fish for them. They tie young or Grip
Piled bird to shrub OF stone. depend
ing upon the compassion Of its fellows
to keep it from dying. In these circum-
stances the sympathetic pelicans bring
che captive . plentiful supply OF Ash.
At intervals q boy steals out and robs
the birds pouch Of the store it con-
tains.
The Seri are wonderful people phys
ieally. They have fine chests. slender
and sinewy limbs, and hands aDl feet
Of remarkable size. OF their luxurtant
long hair, - we'll a. Of their superb
figures. they ere inordinstely proud.
The name 6eri signifies spry, and re-
fers to The marvellous powers Of these
savages as runnerA They are said to be
the feetest runners in the world, being
able to overtake swift horses. Thy &C.
itually make practice Of running down
jackrabbits and deer. The skin OF their
Kegs Is more like that Of q horse or cam.
<l than IKE that OF Q human being, 20
that they can run through thickets Of
thorny cactus that would be impene-
trabls to . white man.
The housss Of the Seri are himsy bow
ers Of cact and shrubbery, sometimes
shhgled rudsly with turtle shells and
sponges. The big sea turtles, besides
replenishing the Ssri harder and form.
ing the house roof, provide receptacles
for water, the material for many prim-
idvs implements, q cradle at the be-
ginning Of life and . coffin at the end.