634 EXHIBIT AT THE COTTON STATES EXPOSITION. 



introduced were those found in actual use among the Indians last 

 autumn. Many of the articles are accultural, since the Papago Indians 

 have borrowed from the white men such arts as seemed good in their 

 sight; but a part (including the pottery and basketry) are primitive, 

 and some represent perfectly the aboriginal condition of the tribe, 

 among these being the family and other fetiches still in constant use 

 among the Papago Indians. Two additional floor cases contain models 

 of the Papago habitations, which are commonly built of a peculiar 

 grass over a framework of mesquite poles, more rarely of adobe. 



The Seri Indians occupy Tiburon Island, in the Gulf of California, 

 and a considerable area of the adjacent mainland of Sonora, Mexico. 

 They are probably the most primitive Indians remaining in North 

 America. They are without agriculture, and have no domestic animals 

 except dogs. Their food is fish and waterfowl from the sea, and game 

 from the land, commonly eaten raw, with the fruits of cacti, mesquite 

 beans, berries, acorns, etc., in season. They have been at war with 

 the neighboring tribes and with whites for three and a half centuries, 

 and lose no opportunity to rob by night, or to murder by ambush or 

 strategy. By reason of their warlike and treacherous character the 

 Seri Indians are little known to ethnologists. The articles and photo- 

 graphs exhibited are believed to be the first ever obtained among them. 

 The collection comprises the bow and arrow (the latter, according to 

 the testimony of Mexicans and Indians themselves, being poisoned), 

 robes of pelican skin which take the place of blankets, face-painting 

 material and utensils, basketry, and their peculiar pottery, as well as 

 their exceedingly meager series of implements and utensils; the col- 

 lection being complete except for the rude water craft and fishing nets, 

 which it was found impracticable to obtain. The exhibit occupies two 

 wall cases, with a number of articles arranged above them. It includes 

 also a floor case containing a life-size model of a Seri hunter, armed 

 with bow and quiver with arrows. The Seri Indians are notable for 

 tall stature, robustness of chest, slenderness of arms and legs, and dark 

 color of the skin. They are remarkably fleet of foot. 



The exhibit includes twelve transparencies (photographs on glass), 

 six representing the Papago Indians with their houses, occupations, 

 costumes, etc., while six represent the Seri Indians with the flimsy 

 wickiups used on the mainland. Their seaside houses, consisting of 

 turtle shell elevated on rocks or poles, have never been photographed. 



DEPARTMENT OF ETHNOLOGY. 



At the north end of the long aisle (Alcoves P and Q) and adjoining 

 the eastern portal was the exhibit of the Department of Ethnology. 

 This space is adjacent to the eastern entrance, and is actually one of 

 the entrances to the Smithsonian space. On either side of the archway 

 were shown groups of Indian figures, clothed in their native costumes, 

 and engaged in their customary occupations. Especially conspicuous 

 was the Sioux chieftain, in full war paint, mounted on his gaily housed 

 pony, and with feather headdress sweeping to the ground, while facing 

 him was a group of Kiowa Indians engaged in moving their habitation, 

 some mounted upon a horse, and other carried behind it by means of 

 primitive appliances known as the "travois." Beneath there was a 

 group of Kiowa children, another of Navajo women weaving blankets, 



