Identifier: annualreportofbu117smit (find matches)
Title: Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
Year: 1895 (1890s)
Authors: Smithsonian Institution. Bureau of American Ethnology
Subjects: Smithsonian Institution. Bureau of American Ethnology Ethnology Indians
Publisher: Washington : U. S. Govt. Print. Off.
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Kahle/Austin Foundation and Omidyar Network

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Snake-skin belt. The custom is apparently obsolete, and nothing is known directly ofdetails or motives. pjxcepting these mutilations the corporeal decoration of the Seri isapparently limited to the face-painting: among the 00 individuals atGosta Rica in 1804 there was no trace of tattooing or scarification offace, limbs, or body; there were no labrets or earrings, and neitherlips nor ears were pierced, nor were nasal septa observed to be per-forated in accordance with the reputed ancient custom; the teeth wereneither tiled nor drilled; no indications of amputation or other maim-ing (save the removal of the incisors) were observed—indeed, theinstinct for physical markings of symbolic or decorative character,which seems to be normal to primitive men, was apparently satisfiedby the prevalent and persistent face-painting among the females. The extra-corporeal decorative devices are of a meagerness and pov- Travels, p. 286. BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL, XXVII
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SERI FACE PAINTING PARAPHERNALIA MCGEF) EXTRA-CORPOREAL DECORATION \1V erty even transcencling the poor apparel, flimsy liabitatious, and gen-erally ill-developert artifacts of the lowly tribe. The most prominent ))ersoiial ))ossession is the pelican-skin robe; itis usually made of six skins, slightly dressed and in full plumage, sewedtogether with sinew iu a conventional pattern of such sort as to givethe greatest possible expanse consistent with the irregular outlines ofthe individual skins, and at the same time to disi)lay a conventionalcolor pattern on the feathered side, the colors ranging from the dorsalslate to the ventral white of the fowl (as Indicated in plate xxiii);sometimes there are only four skins and rarely there are eight, but theconventional arrangement is maintained. Before the beginning of a

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