Several physical characteristics of the Seri Indians are so conspicuous
as to attract attention even at first sight. Perhaps the most striking
is the noble stature and erect yet easy carriage; next in prominence
is the dark skin-tint; a third is the breadth and depth of chest;
another is the slenderness of limbs and disproportionately large size
of extremities, especially the feet; still another is length and
luxuriance of hair; and an impressive character is a peculiar movement
in walking and running.
The mean stature of the adult Seri may be estimated at about 6 feet
(1.825 meters) for the males, and 5 feet 8 inches (1.727 meters) or 5
feet 9 inches (1.73 meters) for the females, these estimates resting
on visual comparisons between Caucasians of known stature and about
forty adult Seri of both sexes at Costa Rica in 1894. In several of
the accompanying photomechanical reproductions (e. g. plates XIII,
XVI, XIX, XXIII, and XXVIII) a unit figure, introduced partly for the
encouragement of the individuals and groups but chiefly to afford a
basis for approximate measurement, gives opportunity for test of the
estimate, the figure measuring 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 meters) to 5
feet 11½ inches (1.812 meters), and weighing about 215 pounds in the
costume shown, including hat and boots.[239] These pictures and some
thirty unpublished photographs, like the observations on the ground,
indicate that practically all of the fully adult males and several of
the females overtop the Caucasian unit. The only definite measurement
known is that of the youthful and apparently immature female skeleton
examined by Dr Hrdlička, of which the dimensions indicate a stature
(estimated by the method of Manouvrier) of about 5 feet 3¾ inches (1.62
meters),[240] or 3½ inches above the female normal of 5 feet ¼ inch
(1.53 meters) given by Topinard; but this considerable stature is,
probably on account of the youth of the subject, much below the mean
indicated by the ocular and photographic comparisons (it corresponds
fairly with that of the Seri maiden represented in plate XXV, whose age
was estimated at 18 years). Naturally this striking stature, especially
that of the warriors, has been much exaggerated by casual observers;
the typical warrior, El Mudo, depicted in plate XIX, is indeed commonly
reckoned as a 7-footer, though his actual stature (diminished somewhat
in the pictures by fearsome shrinking from the ordeal of photographing)
can hardly exceed 6 feet 3 inches (1.90 meters); while for centuries
the folk have been reputed a tribe of giants.
[239] The average net height and weight of the unit figure (that of the
author) are about 5 feet 8⅝ inches and 200 pounds, respectively.
[240] Or about 1.6176 meters estimated by the method of Rollet (cf. The
Races of Man, J. Deniker, London, 1900, p. 33).
[Illustration: BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY