Mcr.EE] PHYSilCAL CHARACTERISTICS 139* 



its astounding protective efficiency being attested by the readiness with 

 whicli the Seri run through cactus tliickets so thorny as to stop horses and 

 dogs, or over conglomerated spall beds so sliarp that even the light coyote 

 leaves their trail. In the absence of measurements it may merely be 

 noted that the hands and feet of the Seri are materially larger, not only 

 absolutely but relatively to their stature, than those of neighboring 

 tribesmen or even of Mexican and American workmen. And, on the 

 whole, it may be said that in their proportions, as in their stature and 

 color, the Seri are strikingly uniform, their range being less than that 

 commonly observed in contemporary tribes, and the dift'erences between 

 them and their neighbors much exceeding the range among themselves. 



Somatically distinctive as is the Seri at rest, he (or she) is much 

 more so in motion — though the characteristics so readily caught by the 

 eye are not easily analyzed and described. Perhaps the most con- 

 spicuous element in their walk is a peculiarly quick knee movement, 

 bringing the foot upward and forward ;it the end of the stride; this 

 merges into an equally quick thrust of the foot forward and downward, 

 with toe well advanced, toward the beginning of the next stride; and 

 these motions combine to produce a singular erectness and steadiness 

 of carriage, the body moving in a nearly direct line with a minimum of 

 lateral swaying or vertical oscillation, while the legs neither drag nor 

 swing, but spurn the ground in successive strokes. Thus the walk 

 seems notably easy <and graceful, while the walker carries an air of 

 alertness and reserve power, as if able to stop short at any jKiint of a 

 pace or to bolt forward or backward or sidewise with equal facility; 

 he simulates the "collected"' animal whose feet tap the ground lightly 

 and swiftly while his body appears to yield freely to voluntary impulse. 

 In this deer-like or antelope-like movement all the Seri are much alike, 

 and all are decidedly removed from their neighbors, even the light- 

 footed Papago. The conii)onent motions are most conspicuous in lei- 

 surely walking, though the resultant movement is more striking in 

 rapid walk or the incredibly swift run of youths and adults. The gen- 

 eral movement is akin to that shaped by the habit of carrying burdens 

 balanced on the head, as the Seri women actually carry their water 

 oUas for astonishing distances; but the carriage is shared — indeed, 

 best displayed— by the warriors and growing boys, who are not known 

 to carry water in this way. 



Among the conspicuous but nondistinctive somatic characters of the 

 Seri is luxuriant straight hair, habitually worn long and loose. Com- 

 monly the hair is jet-black for most of the length, growing tawny 

 toward the tii)S; sometimes it is black throughout, while again the 

 tawny tinge, or perhaps a bleached appearance, extends well toward 

 the scalp. Age-grayness seems not to be characteristic; the most aged 

 matrons known have no more than a few inconspicuous and scattered 

 gray hairs, though the pelagq of some is slightly bleached or faded. 

 None of the warriors at Costa Eica showed the slightest grayness except 



