16 ~ 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 realistic 
interpretations. One 
interesting basket, the 
des:gn 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 
