The Seri Indians of western Mexico call a desert shrub that grows on the mainland of Mexico and its western islands "xneejam." It is a Seri belief that this shrub, Viscainoa geniculata, could grow from a buried fingernail or toenail.15
Large green capsules contain about eight black seeds. These seeds were traditionally made into necklaces together with shell or fish and snake vertebrae. For the Seri these necklaces were an important part of their everyday wear. They now offer these necklaces to tourists.
|
BACK |
TOP |
FWD |
 |
 |
 |