Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1912-10-18

rock, with permanent fresh water In one or two
places only. Separated from the rest of Sonora
by an almost impossible desert and containing
m0thing to excite the interest or cupidity Of the
prospector or Mexican, 1t has remained unex-
Dlored and unvisted until quite recent times.
Though in the surrounding country there are
many traces of ancient civilization, in Seriland
Atself there are no remains nor any evidence to
show that any other race, markedly distinct
either in habits or customs from its present in
habitants, had ever made their home there
Hence 1t may be assumed that the Ser did not
migrate to this part of the world, but indi
genous to the land The Seri Indians are physi
raly fine race, rather above the medium height,
though somewhat slightly made They very
dark, with long, coarse hair, but when young are
by no means ugly. They have low, quiet voices,
and their language is much more melodious than
that of the Yuma or Papago Indians. Their cloth.
Ing is somewhat unusual for they wear 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 as bedding at
might 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 1t is
remembered that these people own no domestic
animals Of any kind, except dogs that are really
coyotes and do not cultivate or till the land at
all 1t will be seen that they have to depend en-
&irely on hunting to supply them with dress and
food, Pellcans are found literally by the thou
sand especially round the little Tsla Tassne, and
provide the Indians with amply sufficient mate
rial to make all the clothing and blankets they
are likely to need In that hot and almost ranless
climate. AS regards food they subsist chiefly
on turtles fish, 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
Scri mountains, Scattered over the greater por-
raion of the island are charred oyster Shells which
show that they are very partial to this form of
food, and that they use fire to open shell-fsh Of
all kinds as they do not possess any knives
They catch the turtles by happening them with
ia very primitive kind Of spear the latter is made
In two parts connected by fiber rope to the
front one of which rough point of hardened
wood, stone or If possible, iron is attached
AS soon as they see turtle they approach noise
.Nessly from behind and thrust the spear through
-the she'll The front portion OF the spear remains
in the animal, but the turtle cannot escape be-
cause of the rope and it is 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 fiber line and
primitive hook, the latter being very often made
from thorn or piece of bone, though sometimes
the larger kinds of fish are killed with bow
and arrow a weapon much in use among the Seri
Their huts are of the most primitive description
being made merely Of dried brushwood and rooted
with turtle shells and sponges. They afford some
slight shelter from the sun. which is their main
purpose, for the heat is always intense the year
round and ! suppose that there are few hotter
places on earth
The foregoing facts are sufficient to mark the
Seri 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 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
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
Ia their most elaborate garments, with their
weapons beside them under a mound Of stones
These graves are to be seen all over the Seri
country. and bear eloquent II silent testimony
10 the valiant defense they have made against
heir enemies; for Of the several thousand Sen
Indians that were known to exist some thirty
years ago there are but three hundred and sew
suty-fve left now. OF which not more than seven
y-two are adult males.
The country is no less unusuai than its in
,abftants for it contains many remarkable trees
md plants II would be natural to suppose that,