The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-10-18

HbBtu III o ubth Il
rock, with permanent fresh water In one or two
places only. Separated from the rest Of Sonora
by an almost impossible desert. and containing
nothing to excite the interest or ]cupidtty OF the
pToHpcct0r or Mexican, It has remained unex.
ploned and unylsitod until quite recent times.
Though In the surrounding country there are
many traces Of an ancient civilization, In Seriland
itself there are 10 remains nor any evidence to
show that any other race, markedly distinct
either In habits or customs from it's present in
habitanta. had ever made their home there.
Hence 1t may be assumed that the Seri did not
migrate to thts part Of the world. but are lndI.
genouB to the land. The Seri Indians are phyBI.
cally a foe race, rather above the medium height,
though somewhat slightly made, They are very
dark, with long, coarse hair, but when young are
by no means ugly. They have low, quiet voices,
and their language Ia much more melodiouB than
that Of the Yuma or Papago Indians. Their cloth.
Ing IL somewhat unusual, for they wear a kind
Of robe Of pelican skins over a short kilt or skirt,
These pelican rugs are beautifully made Of be-
tween four and eight skins sewn together with
sinews or %deerskin, and are used IA bedding at
night, Their belts are OF woven human hair or
vegetable fiber, though snake and lizard skins
are also used for the same purpose. The arms,
bust, legs and feet are usually bare. When il IL
remembered that these people own no domestic
animals of any kind. except dogs that are really
coyotes. and do not cultivate or IN the land at
all. It will b. seen that they have to depend en-.
tirely on hunting 10 supply them with dress and
food. peliCans are found literally BY the thou,
Eapd. especially round the Iittlo Isla Tassne, and
provide the indians with amply sufficient mate.
rtal to make nl the clothing and blankets they
are likely 10 need In that hot and almost rainless
climate. As regards food. they subaist chiefly
on turtles. Ash. molluscs and waterfowl, which
are eaten raw and during the proper seasons they
feed on the fruits Of the various cacti and mes.
quite beans which grow fairly plentifully In the
Scrt mountains, Scattered over the greater por.
ton Of the island are charreG oyster shells, which
show that they are very partial to this form OF
food, and that they use FIRE to open BhellAsh OF
all kinds. az they do not possess any knives.
They catch the turtles by happening them with
a very primitive Kind Of spear, the latter is made
in two parts connected by a fiber rope, to the
front one OF which q rough point OF hardened
wood. stone, or. II possible. iron. Is attached.
rs soon as they see a turtle they approach noise
lessly from behind and thrust the spear through
the shell The front portion Of tho spear remains
In the animal. but the turtle cameo escape be.
cause Of the rope, and It Ia soon towed to the
shore and there broken open. when It Is roasted
or eaten raw. Fish. which abound In these wa.
tiers, are caught by means OF q fiber line and
primitive hook, the latter being very often made
from a thorn or piece OF bone, though sometimes
the larger kinds OF fish are killed vita a bow
ana arrow, q weapon WuCn IN use among the SFTl
Their butts are Of the most primitive description,
being made merely Of dried b]rushwood and rooted
with turtle shells and spOnges They ;eford some
eight shelter from the sun, which Is their main
purpose for the heat Ia ALWAYS intense the year
round. and J SUPPOSE that there are few hotter
places on earth
The foregoing facts are sufficient to mark the
ser' as very distinct from other North American
Indians; but there are many other curious and
peculiar customs which they do not share with
any other tribes. Their religion Is exceedingly
interesting. though somewhat obscure, and the
local character OF their gods is a convincing proof
Of their long residence in that locality. Their
chief deity, for instance. is the Ancient OF Peli-
cans" a mythical bird Of marvellous wisdom and
melodlous song. and their lesser gods are super.
natural beings in similar familiar forms, Every
year, before starting out on their annual expedi'
lions to gather fruit Of the cacti. they hold their
one important religious festival, at which they
make many ceremonial offerings in order that the
supply may be plentiful Their dead are buried
In their most elaborate garments, with their
weapons beside them under a mound Of stones.
These graves are to be seen all over the Serl
country, and bear eloquent, II silent, testimony
to the valiant defense they have made against
their enemies; for Of the several thousand Seri
Indiaps that we're known to exist some thirty
years ago. there are but three hundred and sew.
enty-fve left now, OF which not more than seven.
tY tive are adult males.
The country Is no less unusual than its In
habitants. for It contains many remarkable trees
and plants. 1t would be natural to suppose that.