540 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 19 30 



lines or triangles. Thus a stripe executed in colored beads on the 

 uppers of a moccasin shows the destination of the traveler, while 

 the beaded heel stripe indicates the place of departure. A white 

 border represents snow, while transverse stripes across the instep 

 represent hills and valleys. Triangles represent mountains. Sioux 

 symbolism is almost identical. This was studied by Wissler. Large 

 triangles in applied bead work represent tents ; crossed patterns rep- 

 resent arrows or flight of arrows. The double triangle placed back 

 to back with another set of two triangles forming a cross is a favor- 

 ite Siouan pattern and represents conflict, perhaps between the two 

 sets of triangles representing tents. Among the Arapaho, a white 

 stripe with dots in it represents a buffalo trail; acute triangles are 

 tents, while bordering obtuse triangles represent distant mountains, 

 perhaps where dwell the buffalo. The sun shining on a mountain 

 might be represented as the top segment of a triangle in yellow 

 paint, while the middle or bottom appearing in red color represents 

 the ground, and green grass growing on the slopes. A Shoshoni par- 

 fleche with a blue central rectangle represents an inclosure sur- 

 rounded by an enemy which is represented in red or green outer 

 rectangles. Embroideries in beadwork, and paintings on rawhide, 

 the first on pouches, pipe bags, work bags, and awl cases, and the 

 latter on quivers, work boxes, and saddle bags (parfleches), have no 

 apparent distinction as to design. 



Among the Arapaho a cross with scalloped ends represents a star. 

 Many other designs resembling a cross also represent a star. The 

 same designs when painted with different context may represent 

 individuals. Kroeber shows how a diamond-shaped figure might be 

 used to represent a turtle, a mountain, a star, an eye, a human being, 

 and the navel, or a lake. A rectangle represents a hut, a mountain, 

 a camp circle, a buffalo, or the earth. 



A buffalo motive is treated by the Plains Indians in an interesting 

 manner. A painting on the tanned surface of a buffalo, calf or 

 doeskin is centered with a rectangular device with triangular exten- 

 sions at the four opposite corners. Triangles are added oppositely 

 at the ends and the representation is complete. This treatment is 

 symbolic and signifies the want of more buffaloes for the chase. 



PICTOGRAPHIC AND DECORATIVE DESIGN OF THE NORTHERN AND 

 SOUTHERN PLATEAU, AND OP THE PACIFIC SLOPE 



Decorative designs of Indian tribes occupying the high lands west 

 of the Rocky Mountains, and the Pacific slope south of the Columbia 

 are of interest primarily because of the extreme contrast which they 

 represent in the range of aboriginal culture. It has been noted that 

 Indian tribes of the plateau region possess a culture type transi- 

 tional between that of the Plains and of the Pacific northwest coast 



