324 COILED BASKETRY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA [ETH. ANN. 41 
Tue D1AMoNnD 
Judging from the types of interpretations given to diamonds which 
are the result of entwined or opposed zigzags, or intersecting diagonal 
lines and those given to the separate figures, it seems that more 
range of fancy is allowed in the former case than in the latter, but 
that as usual the general design or the arrangement of the elements 
composing it is largely responsible for the choice of name which has 
been made. 
Large detached diamonds are interpreted according to their sur- 
face treatment, or their alignment with one another, but in either case 
there are several possibilities in the way of names, the selection of 
which must depend more or less upon the whim of the basket maker. 
Outlined or plain solid figures receive such names as spearhead, lake, 
leaf, snare, and mesh. Of these the first two are seldom noted when 
the figure occurs in combination with other geometric elements and 
it seems, therefore, that they may be considered more properly as 
general terms. Another quite rare interpretation is wasp’s nest 
(sketch 509). The diamonds thus named are perhaps broader than 
usual. If the diamond is composed of checks the general name is 
Indian rice root. The Uta’mqt, however, apply their favorite name 
for checkerwork, “clusters of flies,’ and the Nicola “clusters of stars”’ 
(sketches 510 and 399-402). 
For the frequent diamonds with double outline, or surface sub- 
divided into a number of diamonds one within the other, the most 
frequent terms are “eye”’ or “star,” although “snare” and “mesh”? are 
also given (sketches 511, 512). Sketches 513-515 show very common 
forms called “star.” It seems that any cross, square, or diamond- 
shaped figure, if small enough and about equal in both diameters, 
is known as a “star,” especially if the surface treatment is at all 
elaborate. Although single diamonds are called leaves or meshes, 
the former name is more properly applied, perhaps, to a series which 
are arranged along a horizontal line, as in sketches 516 and 517, 
while a mesh figure is properly part of a net design such as is shown 
either in 518 or 519 and 520. The diamond called ‘“‘snare”’ seems 
rightfully to be a part of a more complicated pattern in which the 
zigzag occurs, either actually or as an idea carried out in the ar- 
rangement of the diamonds (sketches 521, 559, 566; 567, p. 326). 
There are a great number of patterns composed of these elements 
arranged in a vertical series, connected at the upper and lower 
points, and a variety of interpretations accompany them which do 
not appear to conform to any general rule. The old familiar names, 
caterpillar, woodworm, and snake, are encountered, which do much 
to strengthen the suspicion that these are applied purely on account 
of the arrangements which remind the people of these creatures and 
have little or nothing to do with the elements themselves. On the 
