PRIMITIVE ART 



29 



Cases 14, 16. 





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Tribes of the Amur River. — The Gold, who inhabit the 

 Upper Amur River, belong to Tungus stock, while the Gilyak 

 of the Lower Amur River and of the Island of Saghalin form an 

 independent group. The decorative art of these two tribes is 

 almost identical . The fundamental forms are geometrical designs, 

 consisting almost exclusively of 

 spirals and of other curves, — a 

 style of decoration widely spread 

 in other parts of the Old World. 

 In this particular region its oc- 

 currence is undoubtedly due to 

 the influence of Chinese decora- 

 tive art. The spiral ornaments 

 are used in carving, in designs cut out of birch-bark and in em- 

 broidery. They are also applied in etched and inlaid ornaments 

 on iron spears (Case 16 a). The most characteristic feature in 



the elaboration of this 

 motive is its combination 

 with bird and fish de- 

 signs. The cock particu- 

 larly is a favorite pattern, 

 and appears in combina- 

 tion with the spiral. On a 

 fish-skin garment of the 

 Gold may be seen a series 

 of designs, at the top of 

 which is shown a crowing cock ; other cocks are placed at the 

 end of a horizontal band. On a birch-bark basket (Case \b e) 

 the same combination of designs appears very clearly, the curved 

 ornament enclosing quite a number of cocks and fishes. Other 



