49° 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



of this area is a cross to the ends of which deepl}^ notched squares are 

 attached (Fig. G). Dr. Kroeber* received the following explanation 

 of this design from an Arapaho : the diamond in the center represents 

 a person; the four forked ornaments surrounding it are buffalo hoofs 



or tracks. Dr. Wissler found the 

 design on a pair of woman's leg- 

 gings of the Sioux. In this case the 

 diamond-shaped center of the de- 

 sign represents the breast of a tur- 

 tle; the green lines forming the 

 cross indicate the four points of 

 the compass ; the forked ornaments 

 s^anbolize forks of trees struck by 

 hailstones, which are indicated by 

 small white rectangles. Mr. St. 

 Clair came across the same design 

 among the Shoshone, where it was 

 found on a cowhide bag. The 

 central diamond was interpreted 

 as the sun and clouds; the notched 

 designs were explained as moun- 

 tain-sheep hoofs. There is a cer- 

 tain similarity in this case between 

 the explanations given by the Arap- 

 aho and those of the Shoshone, 

 while the Sioux connect ideas of 

 a different type with the design. 



Such differences of interpreta- 

 tion are also found on painted de- 

 signs. The Shoshone sometimes 

 imagine they see a battle scene in 

 the squares and triangles of their 

 parfleche designs. The square in 

 the center of Fig. 7 was explained to Mr. St. Glair as an enclosure 

 in which the enemy was kept by a besieging party, represented by the 

 marginal squares. The narrow central line is the trail by which the 

 enemy made good his escape. Many others represent geographical fea- 

 tures, such as mountains and valleys. Such geographical ideas are 

 represented on some Arapaho parfleches, while others exhibit a more 

 complex sym1)olic significance. Battle scenes, however, are not found 

 in interpretations given by the Arapaho. 



* A. L. Kroober, ' The Arapaho,' Bulletin American Museum of Natural 

 nisi or;/. Vol. XVITT. 



Fig. 6. Legging with Beau Embroidery. 



