The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-10-18

naked u 4 ain
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 cupidity of the
prospector or Mexican it has remained unex-
plored and unvisited until quite recent times.
Though in the surrounding country there are
many traces of ancient civilization, IN SerIand
itself there are remains any evidence 10
show that any other race, markedly distinct
either in habits customs from it's present IL
habitants had made their home there
Hence it may be assumed that the Ser1 did not
migrate to this part of the world, but are indi-
genous to the land The Seri Indians are physi-
cally 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 Papago Indians Their cloth
ing is somewhat unusual, for they wear a kind
of robe of pelican skins over short kilt skirt.
These pelican rugs beautifully made of be-
tween four and eight skins sewn together with
sinews or deerskin, and used as bedding at
night Their belts are of woven human hair or
vegetable fiber, though snake and lizard skins
also used for the same purpose The arms
bust, legs and feet 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 It will be seen that they have to depend en-
tirely on hunting to supply them with dress ands
food. Pelicans are found literally by the thou
sand especially round the little Isa 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 rainless
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-
ton of the island charred oyster Shells which
show that they very partial to this form OF
food and that they use fire to open shell-fsh of
all kinds. they do not possess any knives.
They catch the turtles by harpooning them with
a 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
lessly 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 towed to the
shore and there broken open. when it is roasted
or eaten raw Fish which abound in these
tiers are caught by means of 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 with bow
and arrow weapon much in 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 earth.
The foregoing facts are sufficient TO marx the
Seri rs 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" q mythical bird Of marvellous wisdom and
melod%ous song, and their lesser gods are super
natural beings in similar familiar forms Every
year before starting out their annual expedi-
lions so 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 q mound of stones.
These graves are to be ali over the Seri
countrs. and bear eloquent, if silent testimony
10 the valiant defense they have made against
their enemies; for of the several thousand Seri
Indians that were known to exist some thirty
years ago there are but three hundred and
enty-five left now, Of which not more than seven
Gy-two adult males.
The country is less unusual than It's in
aabitants, for it contains many remarkable trees
and plants. 1t would be natural to suppose that,