LAUFER, THE DECORATIVE ART OF THE AMUR TRIBES. 79 



a few cases, as for instance on the spears and bows, where the cock has a triskeles- 

 like appearance, it is always determined, first of all, by the added circle ; secondly, 

 the single arms of it are shaped in such a way that they admit of recognizing, in 

 truth, the forms of the bird. We may clearly distinguish also, in these cases, 

 beak, body, and feet. In the formation of the cocks and fishes the triskeles plays 

 an active rdle for indicating single parts of the body, but not the whole creature, 

 and so its functions are extensive. It sometimes interchanges with the spiral. 

 It symbolizes the pinions of the cock, sometimes the fish-tail, sometimes the fish 

 itself held in the cock s beak ; in fact, even the horn of the musk-deer and the 

 dragon s whiskers. As an independent element, having a definite meaning, how 

 ever, the triskeles never occurs. It is rather a secondary expedient of multifari 

 ous significations, which, however, by no means appears as a resultant from the 

 phases of the cock itself. This fact of the multiplicity of the functions of geo 

 metrical formations confirms again the thorough form-character of this decorative 

 art, which sacrifices everything to the beauty of lines and forms. 



The question may arise as to whether people like the Gold, who are able to 

 produce such fine work, may justly be classified among primitive tribes. The 

 Gold, at all events, are promising, and some time or other will undeniably advance 

 to the rank of a civilized nation, like their ancestral relations the Niiichi and 

 Manchu, but under more peaceable circumstances, relying on the cultivation of 

 the soil, industry, and fine arts. There is no doubt but that they are chosen for 

 their share in civilization, and that they will have a future, if only the Russian 

 Government will continue to lend its assistance in improving the economic life- 

 conditions of this intelligent tribe, which numbers so many good-natured and 

 highly gifted individuals. 



