Rocky Ford enterprise., 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
nothing to excite the interest cupidity of the
prospector Mexican, it has remained unex-
plored and unvisited until quite recent times.
Though in the. surrounding country there are
many traces of an ancient civilization, In Seriiand
itself there remains nor any evidence to
show that any other race markedly distinct
either in habits customs from its present In
habitants. had ever made their home there
Hence 1t may be assumed that the Seri did not
migrate to this part of the world but are ndi-
genous to the land. The Seri Indians are physi-
cally fine race. rather above the medium hei"ht.
though somewhat slightly made They are very
dark with long. coarse hair. but when young are
by ugly. They have low quiet voices,
and their language is much 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 short kilt or skirt
These pelican rugs are beautifully made or be-
tween four and eight skins together with
sinews or deerskin. and are used as bedding at
night Their belts of woven human hair or
vegetable fiber though snake and lizard skins
also used for the same purpose The arms
bust, legs and feet are usually bare When IL Is
remembered that these people own domestic
animals of any kind. excep; dogs that are really
coyotes and do not cultivate or till the land at
ALL 1t will be seen that they have to depend
tirely hunting to supply them with dress and
food. Pelicans found literally by the thou
sand. especially round the little Isla 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
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
Sori mountains. Scattered the greater por-
tion of the island charred oyster shells. which
show that they very partial to this form of
food. and that they fire to open sheish of
all kinds. as they do not possess any knives.
They catch the turtles by harpooning them with
n very primitive kind of spear: the latter is made
in two parts connected by fiber rope to the
front of which rough point OF hardened
wood stone or. IL possible. iron. Is attached
As soon as they turtle they approach noise
iessly from behind and thrust the spear through
the shell The front portion of the spear remains
In the animal. but, the turtle cannot escape be-
cause of the rope. and 1t is soon towed to the
shore and there broken open. when 1t is roasted
or eaten raw Fish which abound in these
tiers. caught by means OF a 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 killed with bow
and arrow, a weapon much in use among the Sert
Their huts Of the most primitive description.
being made merely of dried brushwood and rooted
with turtle shells and sponges. They s>ord 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
Indians: but there 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 chsracter 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
melodious song. and their lesser gods are super
natural beings in similar familiar forms. Every
year before starting out on their annual expedi-
tlons 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 to be seen all over the Seri
country and bear eloquent, II silent testimony
to the valiant defense they have made against
their enemies: for of the several thousand Serf
Indians that were known to exist some thirty
years ago there but three hundred and sew
enty-hve left now of which not more than seven
ty-two are adult males.
The country is less unusual than Its In
habitants TOR It contains many remarkable trees
and plants It would be natural to suppose that,