120 THE SERI INDIANS [eth.akn.17 



On tiist learning of the incident, montlis before tlie diplomatic corre- 

 spondence began, the state and federal authorities promptly adopted 

 visorous imnitive measures. A vessel carrying a force of federal 

 troops was dispatched fiom Guaymas and a body of state troops were 

 sent from Hermosillo with instructions to meet on tlie coast and cajiture 

 the criminals at any cost, even to the extermination of the tribe if resist- 

 ance was offered. But like so many others, the expedition failed; the 

 horses of the laud party were stalled in the sands and burrow-riddled 

 plains, the vessel was harassed by storms and tidal currents, and the 

 lauding boats were swamped by the surf, while the Indians merely fled 

 at sight of the invaders toward inaccessible lairs or remote parts of their 

 territory; and when the water was gone and men and animals were at 

 point of famishing, the forces retired without so niucli as seeing a single 

 Seri. 



During the ensuing autumn the tribe, having quenched tlieir blood- 

 feud in alien biood, turned toward peace, and sent a matron of the 

 Turtle clan, known as Juaua Maria, to Costa K'ica — 1. e., Kancho de San 

 Francisco de Costa Kica — where she was gradually followed by younger 

 matrons and children, then by youths, and linally by warriors (after 

 the fashion of Seri diplomacy) to the aggregate number of about sixty. 

 Here they were found by the first exjjedition of the Bureau of American 

 Ethnology, in November, 1894; and here, under the still strong influ- 

 ence of the venerable Don I'ascual, supplemented by small gifts and 

 persistent pressure, they gradually "gave their language", submitted 

 to extensive photographing, confes.sed specifically to the Kobinsou kill- 

 ing, and yielded up nearly tlie whole of their i)ortable possessions in 

 the way of domestic implements and utensils, face-painting material, 

 pelican skin robes, snake skin necklaces, etc. 



With the return of the Bureau party to Hermosillo the Indians 

 became restive and soon withdrew beyond the desert. In the course 

 of the ensuing winter a group returned to the neighborhood of Costa 

 Eica, where, by aid of strategy, seven warriors (including some of those 

 seen at the rancho in the jjreceding November) with the families of 

 four, were arrested, taken to Hermosillo, tried, and, according to oral 

 accounts, l)anished. Irritated by this action, and connecting with it 

 the visit of Don Pascual and the strangers desiring their language 

 and sacred things, the clans resumed the warpath, disjilaying sjiecial 

 animosity toward the residents of Costa Kica, There were a few minor 

 skirmishes; then, at the instance of the state officials, a number of 

 I'apago Indians, who arc feared by the Seri beyond all other enemies, 

 were domiciled at the rancho, where their mere presence proved a suffi- 

 cient protection. Meantime, according to apjiarently trustworthy ])ress 

 accounts, two small exploring parties entered Seriland; the first con- 

 sisted of seven prospectors, who kept well together until about to leave 

 the territory, when one of their number fell behind — and his companions 

 saw him no more, tliough they carefully retiaced their trail beyond the 



