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 Californian 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 Californian 
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 Californian, 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 7). 
CASE I5. 
HuicuoLt Inpians, Mexico.— The decorative art of the 
modern 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 modern 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 Californian 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- 
