14 LAUFER, THE DECORATIVE ART OF THE AMUR TRIBES. 



of this kind on an awl made of elk-bone (Fig. 2, Plate iv). Just below the 

 point of the instrument we observe two short bands plaited into a knot in the 

 middle. From this point another band starts, and fits into the sides of one of 

 the vertical acute angles. This band is plaited in the form of two lozenges, and 

 ends with half of a third lozenge. The bands added on both sides of the lozenges 

 would seem to indicate the continuation of the latter indefinitely on both sides. 

 Inside of these rhomboids is a vertical row of three round dots, and on the bands 

 themselves a series of smaller dots placed close together, and having the appear 

 ance of a dotted line. This kind of decoration should be considered in a sym 

 bolical sense, since it suggests the use to which the instrument is put. 



Another symbolical device is met with in Fig. 3 of the same plate, which 

 represents a girdle-ornament made of antler, and shows a simple double-knotted 

 band. As this object serves to fasten the girdle, a reference to this purpose is 

 obviously implied in the ornament. 



Band-ornaments are especially employed on the ends of large dishes cut out 

 of one piece of wood ( Figs. 4-6, Plate iv), and used for fish and rice at large 

 social gatherings. Both ends of each piece show the same ornamentation, the 

 bands projecting in relief above the incisions. In Fig. 4 is represented a 

 chain-band composed of three links and forming two knots. Of the two bands 

 on the right and left sides, little more than half is visible, but it should be 

 imagined that they continue in the same way as the middle one. The central 

 band is linked to the two lateral ones, and is itself crossed in the middle. 



In Fig. 5, Plate iv, we see a band running up and down, alternating with a 

 horizontal one. The former is twisted into two circular knots ; the horizontal 

 band is so treated that an ellipse is produced both above and below, the bands 

 coinciding at the centre, the whole presenting a sort of flattened hourglass-shaped 

 figure. To fill up the centre of the ornament a circular band, over which is a 

 semicircle, is made use of. Fig. 6 shows two lateral bands, one crossed over 

 the other, and a pair of horizontal bands twisted into a knot, which is indi 

 cated by a circle and two connecting strokes tangent to it. These two bands are 

 coiled at their ends, forming four circles. 



Next on this plate we see a dish (Fig. 7) which shows a different orna 

 mentation on each end, due to their difference in form. On the trapezoidal- 

 shaped piece are visible two interlaced bands which form a rhombus in the centre. 

 In the triangle on the other side is a double ornament, a simple band-ornament, 

 and attached to it another band-ornament the negative parts of which are made 

 up of two central combined facing spirals, a simple scroll on either side of them, 

 and an engrailed line along the edge of the dish. 



Fig. 8, Plate iv, represents a small square box with separate cover. The 

 ornament on the side of the box consists of two double spirals treated as bands, 

 and surrounded by a band following the windings of the spirals. The cover 

 (Fig. 8 a) shows a combination of two pairs of simple facing band-spirals. The 

 sides of the box seen in Fig. 9, which is shaped like a horse s hoof, are covered 



