i6 



PRIMITIVE ART 



A great variety of geometrical forms may be observed in these 

 baskets (Case P 1-3). Almost all of them are also given reahstic 



interpretations. One 

 interesting basket, the 

 design of which con- 

 sists of alternating 

 large and small dia- 

 monds, is explained as 

 the beaver design, the 

 large central pattern 

 being interpreted as 

 the body of the beaver ; 

 the small diamonds 

 at the lower end, its 

 tail ; the one at its upper end, the head ; while the black lines 

 forming one side of the intermediate diamond are the fore and 

 hind legs of the animal. 



It is fairly evident that this type of basketry has influenced 

 that of the coast tribes of Washington, who also have geometrical 

 designs on their baskets. We find among these tribes a good 

 many baskets imported from the interior, while their own baskets 



show a different type of manufacture, but somewhat similar de- 

 signs. Here a meandering pattern is interpreted as ripples of 

 water, while a design consisting of zigzags is interpreted as 

 mountains and valleys (Case O 7). Attention is called to the 

 peculiar designs composed of hooks (Case O 8), which will be 



