PRIMITIVE ART 29 
CASES 14, 16. 
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 (elt dbase Cedebepinit ata daacky 
style of decoration widely spread oe Tew <a 5: f 
in other parts of the Old World. 7 ‘am a 
In this particular region its oc- 
currence is undoubtedly due to 5Geret 
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 
mot:ve 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. Ona 
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 16 e) 
the same combination of designs appears very clearly, the curved 
ornament enclosing quite a number of cocks and fishes. Other 
ie 
