98 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XVIII, 



in the pouch. The white represents clouds. On the cover 

 are hills, rising and falling along the horizon. 



It is noteworthy that, with all the diversity of symbolism 

 on these four pouches, their designs should be so similar. On 

 all of them there is a large white decorative field, approxi- 

 mately square. Above this the leather is left bare except for 

 a narrow strip upward along each side. The convex edge of 

 the cover is also bordered by a band of white beadwork. On 

 the main decorative area there are three figures or groups of 

 figures, extending vertically. The outer two of these three 

 figures are alike, which gives symmetry to the whole design. 

 The middle figure is always different from the two others, and 

 narrower. Each of these three figures falls into three parts, 

 which may be connected or separate. The resemblance can 

 be traced still farther, as in the shape of these parts of the 

 three figures. A glance at the illustrations will show this 

 better than a verbal description.' 



Yet with this general unity of decorative scheme there go 

 hand in hand, first, an astounding diversity of detail; and, 

 secondly, an equally gfreat diversity of symbolism. Orna- 

 ments that are analogously placed and somewhat similar in 

 form represent, on different pouches, objects as different as 

 men, bear-feet, leaves, and frogs; or, again, dragon-flies, stars, 

 bear-feet, and clouds and stars. The diversity in ornamental 

 detail is as noticeable as the general decorative similarity. 

 The co-existence of these two apparently contrary traits is due 

 to the fact that the Indians, while strongly impressed with 

 certain conventional styles or patterns of decoration, do not 

 directly copy the ornamentation of one pouch in making 

 another, but always exercise their inventive powers in design- 

 ing ornamental forms. This constant variability of detail 

 within narrow limits has been shown above to exist in orna- 

 mented moccasins, and is perhaps still more striking as regards 

 the painted rawhide bags and the parfleches treated below 

 (see pp. 104 et seq.). 



* These bags are of course not specially selected to show similarity of design, but 

 comprise all the toilet-pouches from the Wyoming Arapaho that the American Muaeum 

 of Natural History possesses. A pouch from the Oklahoma Arapaho, with a dififerent 

 style of design, was described and illustrated in Symbolism of the Arapaho Indians 

 (Bulletin A M. N. H.. Vol. XIII. 1900, pp. 81. 83). 



