MCGEE] FIRST SIGHT OF SERILAND 1700 61 



Pozo Escalante or Aofua Amarilla of receut maps); there, three nights 

 later, he was attacked by archers, who discharged arrows into the 

 soldiers' camp and immediately fled. Subsequently, seeking their ene- 

 mies close to the sea 20 leagues away (probably on the eastern shore 

 of El Infiernillo), Escalante and his men were joined by 120 Tepoka 

 people; an<l, failing to find their assailants, they gave these allies a sup- 

 Ijly of provisions and turned them over to Padre Melchor Bartiromo, 

 who allotted to them, in conjunction with 300 deserters from the mis- 

 sions who had been captured by the soldiers, not only lands but corn 

 for sowing and eating. Having thus disposed of the Indians, Escalante 

 and his soldiers returned to the coast on March 28, 1700, to punisli the 

 boldness and pride of the Indians in their stronghold ("los indios seris 

 de la rancheria del medio"). Passing by balsas to the island, "they 

 overtook those who caught up bows and arrows to fight, of whom they 

 slew nine as an esami)le to the others"; and these others they captured 

 and sent to the priest at Populo — after which the party returned to 

 Cucurpe in time to celebrate Holy Thursday on April S.' 



This contemporary recital, written by Escalaute's acquaintance and 

 rival in exploration and subjugation, Juan JMateo Mange, bears both 

 internal and external evidence of falling well within the truth. It is 

 corroborated and extended by Alegre's version, written forty or fifty 

 years later on data at least partially independent: according to Alegre, 

 Escalante and his soldiers went on balsas to the"Isla de los Seris, 

 which is called San Agnstin by some, but more commonly Tiburon". 

 He added that the retreats of the Seri after the murders and robberies 

 committed at the pueblos of Pimeria, as well as the' abundant pearl 

 fisheries, have made this place highly noted ("muy famosa"); and he 

 correctly described the strait and the projecting sandbanks opposite 

 the center of the island, which reduce the ojjcn water to a width of 

 barely half a league: "At this constriction the Seri cross in balsas 

 composed of many slender reeds, disposed in three bundles, thick in the 

 middle and narrowing toward the ends, 5 and 6 varas in length. These 

 balsas sustain the weight of four or five persons, and with light two- 

 bladed paddles 2 varas in length cut the water easily." He remarked 

 also that while a part of the Seri seen on the island by Escalante were 

 captured the major portion escaped, "fleeing with great swiftness".^ 



The early record is also corroborated, in a manner hardly credible in 

 regions of more rapid social and physiographic development, by local 

 tradition and by the survival of the well excavated by the party and 

 still bearing Es('alante's name. 



On the whole it may be considered established that Sergeant Esca- 

 lante crossed El Infiernillo and visited Tiburon in 1700; and, although 

 it may be possible that pearl fishers or others preceded him, he must 

 be credited with the first recorded exploration of strait and island by 

 white men. 



'Eesumen ile Nutkias, op. cit., toiuo I, pp. 321-322. 'Op. cit.,tomo in, pp. 117-119. 



