ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT XLI 



and who can'ied forward a route map, made detailed sur^•e5'S 

 of these ruins; a number of photographs were taken also, 

 while a considerable collection representing- the fragmentary 

 pottery and stone art of the builders was obtained. 



After spending some days in surveying the ruins at Alainito, 

 the expedition pushed on southward, traversing the principal 

 mountain range of western Sonora in a narrow canyon below 

 Poso Noriega, and thence following for 50 miles the sand wash 

 known as Rio Bacuache, which was not previousl}^ mapped. 

 Leaving this wash near its indefinite termination on the desert 

 plains, the course was headed toward Rancho de San Francisco 

 de Costa Rica, where a rancheria of Seri Indians was found 

 in 1894. On reaching this point it was ascertained that the 

 Indians had, through a combination of circumstances, become 

 more hostile toward white men than ever before, so that the 

 pi'ospect for studying their arts, institutions, and beliefs seemed 

 most gloomy. Nevertheless, it was decided to make the effort. 



At Costa Rica a rude boat was built, with the aid of Senor 

 Pascual Encinas, of Hermosillo; a preliminary trip was then 

 made over the continental portion of Seriland, including the 

 Seri mountains, which were ascended for the first time by 

 white men, and were carefully mapped by Mr Johnson. It 

 was expected that the Indians would be encountered on this 

 trip; but unfortunately there had been a skirmish between a 

 small party of the Seri and a party of Mexican vaqueros two 

 days before the expedition entered Seriland proi)er, and the 

 Indians had apparently withdrawn to the coast and Tiburon 

 island. Returning from this side trip, the boat was, with much 

 difficulty, transported across Encinas desert and launched in 

 Kino bay, a I'eentrant in the coast of the Gulf of Califoi-nia. 

 The stock, with the teamsters and guides, were sent back to 

 the rancho, while the main party proceeded up the coast to the 

 strait separating Tiburon island from the mainland. It had 

 been estimated from the best available data that from five to 

 seven days would be required for crossing the strait, surveying 

 Tiburon island, and making collections; and ten days' rations 

 with five days' water supply were provided. The pai'ty, in 

 addition to the leader, comprised Messrs W. D. Johnson, topog- 



