230* 



THE SERI INDIANS 



[ETH. AXN. 17 



guallii by the 1805 expedition), and then hatcheled with the hnpf or the 

 edge of a shell ; when the fibers are gathered in slender wisps or loosely 

 wound coils, both of which were among the possessions of the Seri 

 matrons at Costa liica in 1894. So far as could be ascertained, the 

 final ijrocesses parallel those of hair-cord making, i. e., the fibers are 

 patiently sorted into strands, sized iu the fingers 

 and twisted by rolling on the thigh, the strands 

 being subsequently combined in similar fashion.' 

 Neither the weaving nor the woven fabrics of the 

 Seri have ever been seen by technologic students 

 so far as known, though the fabrics are shown in 

 Yon Bayer's photographs and have been described 

 by various observers. According to Senor Encinas, 

 they resemble coarse bagging, and are woven or 

 netted quite plainly. The ordinary sewing material 



is sinew, used in 

 connection with a 

 bone awl (a good 

 example of which 

 is illustrated iu 

 figure 35), a fish 





Flo. 35— Bone awl. 



Fin. 30— Wooden awls. 



si)iue or bone, a cactus thorn, or either the mandible of a water-bird 

 or a hard-wood skewer shaped after this natural needle (figure 36 

 « and y). Sometimes hair or vegetal fiber is substituted for the sinew; 

 and for certain purposes an agave tboru, with the fibers naturally 

 attached, serves for needle and thread. 



1 A rope-twisliDg device of the .sort commonly employed l>y southwestern Indians was found in use 

 by Seri boys at Costa Rica iu 1894, and was included in the Seri collection; hut the indications were 

 that the de\'ice was a mere toy used, like the horse- hair riatas made by its aid, only in youthlul 

 sports. 



II 



