12 LAUFER, THE DECORATIVE ART OF THE AMUR TRIBES. 



stitched into it. There are two outer and two inner spirals corresponding to each 

 other symmetrically, the latter two coinciding at the centre. 



In Fig. 2 of this plate we see one of the two symmetrical halves of a design 

 painted on the upper edge of a pair of leggings. The ornamentation is on a piece 

 of fish-skin, which is sewed to the material of the leggings. The trapezoidal sec 

 tion across the top, the narrow stripe under it, and the lower border-line, as well 

 as five of the large dots inside, are red ; all the rest, deep black. The orna 

 ment starts with a spiral winding round to the left, the centre of which is indicated 

 by a small thickened circle. To this spiral is attached, on the right-hand side, a 

 figure the foundation of which appears as a simple wave-line from which proceed 

 three scroll-like branchlets. The upper ones run in the same direction as the 

 main spiral. The branch nearest the main spiral sends out a smaller offshoot in 

 the form of a triskeles. 



The wooden Gilyak box of cylindrical form, shown in Fig. 3, Plate in, is 

 decorated with an ornament that offers a typical example of a compound spiral. 

 From one and the same centre proceed two spiral bands, one within the other, 

 and both running in the same direction. The line forming the spiral is made 

 up of three incised lines, close together and parallel to each other, which throw 

 out in relief the two intervening spaces. The spaces between these groups of 

 lines form bands, which continue from one spiral into the next, producing alter 

 nately two knots and one knot, that serve to connect two adjoining spirals. In 

 the upper and lower edge of the spirals are twisted knots ; so that one may look 

 upon this pattern also as a very artistic interlacement of bands, which sometimes 

 results in knots, and sometimes in spirals. All together, there are four such 

 spirals covering the convex surface of the cylinder. On the inside of the bottom 

 of this box is found a peculiar variation of the svastika, in that the design has two 

 additional arms on the sides. 



Fig. 4, Plate in, shows the cover of a decorated tobacco-box. It is orna 

 mented with three spirals, the central one smaller than the others, which are 

 treated at the same time as band-ornaments. Each spiral figure is composed of 

 two spiral lines of the same direction, one within the other. All three figures are 

 solid spirals. In the spirals at the top and bottom the regular circuit of the 

 windings is interrupted by two circular inlaid bands which cross the spiral lines at 

 two places ; that is to say, they run under them : in this way in one semicircle are 

 combined eight parallel bands. The band of the central spiral is structurally con 

 nected with those on either side of it. To the left of this central spiral are two 

 parallel, frequently interlaced bands, and to the right of it is a band plaited into 

 three knots, and tied to a boat extending along the side of this pattern. This 

 forms a conspicuous example of the essential principle of the band-ornament in 

 connection with a realistic motive. Around the rim of this cover, which is not 

 visible in the drawing, runs a continuous chain-band whose form corresponds to 

 that on Fig. 6, Plate n. 



In Fig. 5, Plate in, is represented a Goldian knife which was obtained in 



