Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-10-23


rock with permanent fresh water in one OF two
places only Separated from the rest OF Sonora
II by an almost impossible desert, and containing
nothing to- excite the interest or scupidity OF the
q prospector or Mexican, 1T has remained unex-
apl0red and unvisited until quite recent times.
Though in the surrounding country there are
many traces OF ancient civilization. IN sertand
Ii itself there are no remains nor any evidence to
"A show that any other race, markedly distinct
either in habits or customs from It's present IN
habttants had ever made their home there.
Hence ittmay be assumed that the Seri did not
81 migrate to this part of the world but are indi-
VI Renous toa the land The sSeri Indians nre physi-
cally a fpe race, rather above the medium helgnt,
though somewhat slightly made. They are very
dark, with long, coarse hair but when young are
y by no means ugly. They have low, quiet voices
and their languageis much more melodious than
that OF the Yuma or Papago Indians Their cloth
ing Is somewhat unusual, for they wear k1no
81 robe or pelican skins short kilt or skirt
y 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
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 It Is
rememb ered 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.g
& trely on hunting to supply them with dress and
h food. Pelicans are found literally by the thou
sand especially round the little 1sa Tassne,9 and
q provide the Indians with amply SUFFICIENT mate
rialsto make all the clothing and blankets they
are likely to need that hot and almost rainless
climate As regards food they subsist chiefly
aon% turtles. fish, olluscs and waterfowl which
are eaten raw and during the proper seasons they
feed on the fruits OF the various cacu and mes
y quite beans which grow fairly plentifully in the
Il scri mountains! Scattered over the greater por-
ton OF the island are charred oyster shells, which
show that they are very partial to this form OF
food and that they fire to open shell .fsh OF
4 ali kinds as they do not possess any knives
4 They catch the turtles by harpooning them with
very primitive kind OF spear; the latter is made
In two parts connected by fiber rope, to the
4 front one OF which a rough point Of hardened
IL wood stone or, If possible, iron. IT, attached:
AS soon as they see turtle they approach noise
Is lessy from behind and thrust the spear through
the she'll The front portion Of the spear remains
I'm the animal but the turtle cannot escape be
cause of the rope, and It is soon towed to the
4 shore and there broken open, when It Is roasted
or eaten raw. Fish, which abound IN these wa
sters are caught by means Of q hber line and
primitive hook, the latter being very often made
from q thorn or piece Of bone, though sometimes
n the larger kinds OF fish are killed with a 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 ts their main
ID
round and I suppose that there are few hotter
places on earth.
El The foregoing facts are sufficient to mark the
4 Seri as very distinct from other North American
Indians; but there are many other curious and
II peculiar customs which they do not share with
any other tribes. Their religion ist exceedingly
interesting, though somewhat obscure, and the Z
local character OF their gods is convincing proof
5of 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.
q natural beings in similar familiar forms. Every
year, before starting out 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
Il In their most elaborate garments, with their
weapons beside them under mound of stones.
These graves are to be seen all over the Seri
country and bear eloquent, II silent testimony
s to the valiant defense they have made against 1
their enemies for Of the several thousand Seri
Indians that were known to exist some thirty
years ago, there are but three hundred and sew
enty-fve left now OF which not more than seven e
ty-two are adult males ..l.3 .-H
The country Is no less unusual than its in
habitants, for it contains many remarkable trees
and plants. It would be natural to suppose that,