464 URES TO 
hours, accompanied by several young Mexican gentle- 
men of education, who remained during the interview, 
manifesting much interest in my undertaking, and as- 
sisting me in obtaining the words correctly. The native 
was a good looking man, about thirty years of age. 
His complexion was fair, and resembled that of an 
Asiatic rather than an American Indian. His cheek- 
bones were high, and his head round and well formed, 
though the anterior portion was somewhat angular and 
prominent. His hair was short, straight, and black. He 
was a full-blooded Ceris, and came originally from the 
island of Tiburon. In about three hours I completed 
the vocabulary quite satisfactorily to myself, and some- 
what to the surprise of my Mexican friends when they 
heard the Indian so readily recognise each word as I 
read it off in his native tongue, and then give me the 
Spanish equivalent. I found it an extremely harsh 
language, very difficult to express with our letters, and 
totally different from any aboriginal tongue I had heard 
spoken. 
The Ceris tribe of Indians, with the exception of 
-those which are christianized and reside in the village 
near Hermosillo, occupy the island of Tiburon in the 
Gulf of California, north of Guaymas. Although be- 
lieved not to number over one hundred warriors, they 
have long been the dread of the Mexicans between 
Guaymas and Hermosillo, as well as the country to the 
north, on account of their continual depredations and 
murders. Their practice is to lie in wait near the tra- 
velled roads, and there surprise small and unprotected 
parties. Their place of abode being on an island 
or the shores adjacent, and their subsistence being 
