I 50 Bulletin American Museum oj Natural History. [Vol X VIII. 



nearly pictographs, yet are made with a considerable attempt 

 at ornamentation : they may, as a class, be described as dec- 

 orative — but not geometrically decorative — and highly sjnn- 

 bolic. Usually these objects, are painted or can.'ed in outline, 

 with free lines. Ceremonial articles of this class are not 

 described in the present chapter, but are mentioned here 

 because they reveal a form of art that is midway between 

 symbolic decoration and picture-writing. 



Another variety of symbolism that is found chiefly in con- 

 nection with ceremonial objects, but which it may be well to 

 refer to here, attaches signification to various parts or ap- 

 pendages of such objects. For instance, feathers sometimes 

 denote spirits, or again clouds, or wind, and hence breath and 

 life. Fur, hoofs, sticks, strings, bells, pendants, fringes, etc., 

 are often symbolic in this way. 



In closing this discussion of Arapaho decorative symbolism, 

 it is desired to state that the closeness of connection between 

 this symbolism and the religious life of the Indians cannot 

 well be overestimated by a white man. Apart from the 

 existence of a great amount of decorative symbolism on 

 ceremonial objects not described in this chapter, it should be 

 borne in mind that the making of what have been called 

 tribal ornaments is regidarly accompanied by religious cere- 

 monies; that some styles of patterns foimd on tent-ornaments 

 and parfleches are very old and sacred because originating 

 from mythic beings; that a considerable ntimber of objects 

 are decorated according to dreams or visions; and, finally, 

 that all symbolism, even when decorative and unconnected 

 with any ceremony, tends to be to the Indian a matter of a 

 serious and religious nature. 



NOTE. 



After p. 9 had been printed, I secured the missiag terms of rela- 

 tionship in the Arapaho dialect. 



father's brother neisa'nao 



mother's sister ne'ina" 



son of brother of a man / ,.. , 



son of sister of a woman ) °* *" *° 



daughter of brother of a man \ ^ , 



daughter of sister of a woman \ °* °* 



It will be seen from these terms that the Arapaho system is 

 identical with that of the Gros Ventres. 



