328 COILED BASKETRY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA  [em. ann. 41 
ReEMarkKs ON INTERPRETATIONS OF GEOMETRIC DrEsIGNS 
Before leaving the subject of design interpretations it may be well 
to summarize briefly the results obtained from the study and to 
compare these with the data which have been obtained from the 
people themselves on this point. 
It has been found that there are no geometric figures which possess 
only one interpretation, although most of them are more generally 
known by one rather widely used name which seems to have been 
given partly because of the general shape of the element, partly because 
of some rather common form of subdivision, or exclusively for one or 
the other of these reasons. Combinations of figures, including small 
designs, vertical stripes, and horizontal bands, are also variously 
designated, even when identical in composition. Their names depend 
upon their general form, surface pattern, or arrangement as parts of 
larger groups. 
The most interesting geometric figure is the triangle, with its com- 
mon name arrowhead. A frequent interpretation for the square or 
rectangle is big bead, if the figure is large, or fly if it is small and 
considered in the aggregate. The rectangle is also very commonly 
called a dentalium. The hexagon and the octagon are known as 
the grave box, while the cross with arms and stem of equal length 
is usually interpreted as a star. Lines are given many interpreta- 
tions which apparently cover many divergent ideas. Nevertheless 
all are connected with long, slender objects, the choice of name in 
the case of wide bands being controlled less by the general shape of 
the band as a whole than by the particular character of the subsidiary 
treatment of the surface. And in a general way this is true of all the 
figures. 
As an example we find associated with lines such apparently diverse 
objects as snakes, hair ribbons, rain, necklaces, and beads; a little 
reflection, however, enlightens us and we see that the first four objects 
present in common the striking feature of exaggerated length com- 
pared to width, while in the last stance the subdivision into blocks 
suggests the form of beads used in necklaces or embroidery. So the 
qualified names rattlesnake and garter snake are prompted by certain 
brilliantly contrasted and clearly defined subdivisions of the band, 
which suggest the markings of these two snakes. Thus the association 
of designs with different objects and the expression of the association 
by bestowing on them the name of the object which each is thought to 
resemble goes back to two causes, the suggestion of resemblance due to 
general shape and that due to the elements in composition. Hither 
of these may at times be entirely overlooked in favor of the other, 
depending upon which makes its appeal most strongly to the individual 
rendering the decision, or both may be taken into consideration. 
