34 PRIMITIVE ART 



seems the more likely, since it is found in entirely different weaves, 

 according to the district in which it occurs. While it is found on 

 many Cahfornian weaves, it is applied in the State of Washington 

 on the peculiar imbricated basketry the characteristic designs 

 of which are illustrated by baskets of the Thompson and Lillooet 

 Indians (see p. 15 and Cases O and P, Hall 108). 



The interpretations given to designs by the Califomian 

 Indians vary greatly. The designs often represent plants, while 

 some represent fish-teeth, snakes, worms, millepeds, butterflies, 

 etc. Designs symbolic of larger animals are absent. One of the 

 most frequently occurring designs on Califomian, and perhaps on 

 all basketry, is the feather and arrow-point design (Cases 2, 3). 

 Realistic designs are found only in the extreme southern part of 

 California and in the adjoining portions of Arizona. 



In northern California the interpretation of designs seems 

 to be almost absent. The patterns of this district are called 

 "striped," "zigzag," etc., terms which are evidently names, not 

 interpretations (Case 6 /). 



Case 15. 



HuiCHOL Indians, Mexico. — The decorative art of the 

 modem tribes of Mexico has evidently been much influenced by 

 Spanish art. The most elaborate decorative work of the present 

 period is done in textiles, particularly in weaving and in embroi- 

 dery, while modem pottery designs are of a crude character. The 

 designs found in various regions of Mexico and of Central America, 

 and also those of South America, consist to a great extent of 

 geometrical elements, but also of somewhat angular representa- 

 tions of birds, mammals and men, all more or less conventional- 

 ized. The color combinations differ also considerably in various 

 regions. 



One of the designs found most frequently on textile work is a 

 series of triangles which are similar in their arrangement to the 

 arrow design on Califomian basketry. This type of design is 

 found on the belts of the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico and 

 Arizona as well as in Mexico. A comparison with ancient Mexican 

 designs, in so far as they have been preserved on ancient Mexi- 



