170* 



THE SERI INDIANS 



[ETH. ANN. 17 



The second nuitilation was tlie only corporeal modification noted by 

 early missionaries and exjjlorers — it was the perforation of tlie nasal 

 septum for the insertion of a skewer, perhaps of polished stone (though 

 doubtless more commonly of bone), to which swinging objects were 

 attached. One of the most useful records is that of the Jesuit, Padre 

 Josejjh Och, who described the nasal attacliment as a small, colored 

 stone suspended by cords from the perforated septum, and guarded with 

 such Jealous veneration that "one must give them at least a horse or a 

 cow lor one" (ante, p. 78); while according to Hardy's record, the 

 nasal fetish is "a small, round, white bone, 5 inches in length, tai)er- 

 ing off at both ends, and rigged something like a cross-jack yard.'" 



Fin. 7— Snake-skin licit. 



The custom is apparently obsolete, and nothing is known directly of 

 details or motives. 



Excepting these mutilations the corporeal decoration of the Seri is 

 apparently limited to the face-painting: among the 00 individuals at 

 Costa llica in 1894 tliere was no trace of tattooing or scarification of 

 face, limbs, or body; there were no lahrets or earrings, and neither 

 lips nor eais were pierced, nor were nasal septa observed to be i)er- 

 forated in accordance with the reputed ancient custom; the teeth were 

 neither tiled nor drilled; no indications of amputation or other maim- 

 ing (save the removal of the incisors) were observed — indeed, the 

 instinct for physical markings of symbolic or decorative character, 

 which seems to be normal to primitive men, was ajiparently satisfied 

 by the prevalent and persistent face-painting among tlie females. 



The extra-corporeal decorative devices are of a meageruess and pov- 



' Travels, p. 286. 



