38 PRIMITIVE ART 
gourd, the flowers, the vines and serpents are all considered as 
symbols of rain or of the vegetation produced by rain. 
In this respect the interpretation of the geometrical designs 
given by the Huichol resembles very much that given by the 
Pueblo Indians of the arid Southwest. Some of the favorite 
motives of their decorative art are interpreted in the same man- 
ner, terraced .triangles with lines descending from them being 
always interpreted as rain-clouds and falling rain; while zigzag 
lines represent lightning. 
SUMMARY. 
The description of these collections shows that in many 
remote parts of the world primitive people interpret the orna- 
mental designs which they use for decorating objects of every- 
day use as representations of realistic ideas. Investigations 
among other peoples, from whom the Museum has no collections, 
show that the same tendency may be found all over the world. 
In some cases it has been found possible to bring together a 
series of decorative motives which show at one end an almost 
realistic representation of a certain object, while at the other end 
of the series may be seen a purely conventional form. From this 
observation the conclusion has been drawn, that, on the whole, 
geometrical ornaments originated from realistic forms by gradual 
transformation. 
On the other hand, we have seen that in many cases the same 
form was transferred from one tribe to another by borrowing, 
as, for instance, among the Indians of the Plains; and that dif- 
ferent interpretations were given to the same forms by different 
tribes. This seems to indicate that the interpretation may also 
be adapted to the design, or, as we may say, that, according to 
the favorite concepts of the people, an idea has been “‘read 
into” the design. 
