DEL'URATLVE ART OF THE INDIANS. 



491 



The similarity of complex designs, combined with dissimilarity 

 of interpretation, justifies a comparison of simpler forms. These 

 might be believed to have originated independently; hut the same- 

 ness of the complex forms proves that their component elements must 

 have had a comnu^n origin, or at least have been assimilated by 

 the same forms. One of tiie striking examples of this Idnd is the 



cross. Among the Arapaho it 



signifies almost invariably the 

 morning star. To the mind of 

 the Shoshone it conveys the 

 idea of barter. The Sioux 

 recognizes in it a man slain 

 in battle and lying flat on 

 the ground with arms out- 

 stretched. The Thompson Ind- 

 ians of British Columbia rec- 

 ognize in it the crossing trails 

 at which sacrifices are made. 

 The simple straight red 

 lines with which skin bags are 

 decorated are another good 

 example. A specimen was 

 collected by Dr. Kroeber 

 among the Arapaho (Figs. 

 8a and 8b) in which he ex- 

 plains the stripes on the 



beaded design on the narrow sides and on the flaps of the bag 

 as camp-trails; the shorter transverse stripes intersecting these longi- 

 tudinal lines, as ravines, that is, camping-places. On the front of the 

 bag the horizontal lines of quill-work, which resemble the lines on 

 buffalo-robes, are paths. Bunches of feathers on these lines repre- 

 sent bufEalo-meat hung up to dry. Adjoining the bead-work are 

 small tin cylinders with tufts of red hair; these represent pendants 

 or rattles on tents. 1li\ St. Clair obtained the following explanation 

 of a Shoshone bag of almost identical design : The porcupine-quill 

 work on the front of the bag represents horse-trails. The red horse- 

 hair tassels at each side are horses stolen by people of one village from 

 those of another, the villages being represented by the bead- work at 

 the sides of the bag. The bead-work on the flap represents the owners 

 of the horses indicated by the horse-hair tassels on the flap. Among 

 the Sioux the same design is used in the puberty ceremonial, and 

 symbolizes the path of life. 



It must not be believed that the interpretation of a certain motive, 

 or even of a complex figure when used by the members of one tribe, 



Fig. 7. Shoshone Parfleche Design. 



