34 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



and for hundreds of square rods the ground is literally sprinkled with fragments of 

 pottery, spalls, and wasters produced in making chipped implements, and other arti- 

 ficial material. Mr. Willard D. Johnson, who accompanied the party as topographer 

 (on furlough from the United States Geological Survey), and who carried forward a 

 route map, made detailed surveys of these ruins; a number of photographs were 

 taken also, while a considerable collection representing the fragmentary pottery 

 and stone art of the builders was obtained. After some days spent at this locality 

 the expeditions pushed on southward, traversing the principal mountain range of 

 western Sonora in a narrow canyon below Poso Noriega, and thence following for 

 50 miles the sand wash known as Rio Bacuache, which was not previously mapped. 

 -Leaving this wash near its indefinite termination on the desert plains, the course 

 was headed toward Rancho de San Francisco de Costa Rica, where a rancheria of 

 Seri Indians was found in 1894. On reaching this point it was ascertained that the 

 Indians had, through a combination of circumstances, become more hostile toward 

 white men than ever before, so that the prospect for studying their arts, institutions, 

 and beliefs seemed most gloomy. Nevertheless, it was decided to make the effort. 



At the rancho a rude boat was built, with the aid of Senor Pascual Eucinas, of 

 Hermosillo; a preliminary trip was then made over the continental portion of Seri- 

 land, including the Seri Mountains, which were ascended for the first time by white 

 men, and Avere carefully mapped by Mr. Johnson. It was expected that the Indians 

 would be encountered on this trip; but unfortunately there had been a skirmish 

 between a small party of the Seri and a party of Mexican vaqueros two days before 

 the expedition entered Seriland proper, and the Indians had apparently withdrawn 

 to the coast and Tiburon Island. Returning from this side trip, the boat Avas ; with 

 much difficulty, transported across Encinas desert and launched in Kino Bay, a reen- 

 trant in the coast of the Gulf of California. The stock, with the teamsters and 

 guides, were sent back to the rancho, while the main party proceeded up the coast 

 to the strait separating Tiburon Island from the mainland. It had been estimated 

 from the best available data that from five to seven days would be required for 

 crossing the strait, surveying Tiburon Island, and making collections; and ten days' 

 rations with five days' water supply were provided. The party, in addition to the 

 leader, comprised Messrs. W. D. Johnson, topographer, J. W. Mitchell, photographer, 

 and S. C. Millard, interpreter; Senores Andres Noriega, of Costa Rica, and Ygnacio 

 Lozania, of Hermosillo; Mariana, Anton, Miguel, Anton Castillo, and Anton Ortiz, 

 Papago Indians; and Ruperto Alvarez, a mixed-blood Yaki. A military organiza- 

 tion was adopted, strict regulations were laid down for the protection of life and 

 property, and watches were instituted and rigidly maintained. 



On proceeding up the coast toward the turbulent strait El Infiernillo, severe gales 

 were encountered, whereby progress Avas greatly retarded; and on reaching the 

 strait the winds continued to blow so Aiolently as to fill the air with sand ashore and 

 spray at sea, and to render it impossible to make the passage. Finally, after five 

 days, when the water was exhausted, the gale lulled sufficiently to permit a difficult 

 crossing with a portion of the party and a small part of the scanty food and bedding; 

 but when Messrs. Johnson and Mitchell set out on the return trip to bring over Seiior 

 Noriega and two of the Indians, who remained with the supplies on the mainland, 

 the gale rose again and, despite the most strenuous efforts, blew the frail A*essel 25 

 miles down the gulf, where it was practically wrecked on a desert island. On the 

 folloAving day the wind subsided somewhat, and the two men Avere able to empty the 

 boat of the sand with which it had become filled, to repair it, and finally to reach 

 the rendezvous on the shore of Kino Bay in time to meet the teamsters from the 

 rancho on their return to bring in the party. Here water was obtained, and Messrs. 

 Johnson and Mitchell again worked their way up the coast in the face of adverse 

 winds, usually tracking the boat laboriously along the rocky coast; but it was not 

 until the end of the fourth day that they rejoined the three men left on the mainland, 

 who had suffered much from thirst, and again crossed the strait to find the larger 

 portion of the party with the leader on Tiburon Island. Meantime the group on the 



