New-York tribune., 1874-07-17
HOW INDIANS COUNT.
By DIR. J.. HAMMOND TRUMBULL OF HARTFoR

B1 DIX. Js hAhhOND bhO-"oNbS Va AhhAi OhbJ
CONN.
Grimm's dictum that all names for numbers
are derived from the fingers has no known exception
in North American languages decimal system recK-
onng by the fingers Of both hands, 10 have been
finally adopted by most Indian tribes, some, however
not getting beyond the first hand, and q few falling be-
hind even this The Abpones OF Paraguay could not it is
said count four and to that final figure OF their
arithmetic they gave the name of the ostrich toes"
Several nations including those OF Mexico and Central
America, reckoned by twenties instead OF tens and
yes using the whole number of the fingers and toes
the base of the numera system Amongthe Tuie Indians
Of Daren. counting in this way, 20 is one man." 100
five men," Galatin found in all OF the yo-
cDulares of 53 North American nations decimal nota-
tOn. Buschmann showed that the Enumeration OF the
Athapascan family Of languages is decimal with traces
OF counting by twenties only in two laDguages-the
Umpqua OF Oregon and the klDal.
As the direction of counting on the fingers the Es
kimos Hudson's Bay represent the middle, fourth.
aud little nnger as ana TO- tne thumb OF the second
culty count 2O-whlch they call "a man"-Dy means or
fingers and toes their system Of numbers gong only 10
fye on hand, second five on the other, and the
rest the 20 similarly on the toes There Is evidence
from that many Indian tribes of North
America counted similarly TO the EsklmOs OF Hudson s
bay; tine DakOtas counting lO on her nhsers ana Dehu
u Them down successively each time ten Is counted.
thus keeping tally OF the tens the same method is
The Makahs OF Cape Flattery begin to count with the
little huger OF the left hand, passing from the left
thumb to the night thumb, ana turning down each
finger 1t Is counted Occasionally one OF these LA-
found reversing Z. e.
win the little finger OF the right hand but never with
the thumb. TINS matter becomes OF interest IN view of
the assumptions OF MI IIls VINO has announced the
discovery Of indications Of tue common origin Of the
human race the names of numerals Certainly
among American races tins assumption Is not Well
ouuded except regards the first three nuneras for
tue other figures there Is the greatest confusion OF
names even nearly related languages. IN the
Algonkn dialects OF common language there are sew
efaI different Tor the same number, tue same
finger OF the hand being differently named Dy Two
triDes speaking the same language MF Ems mus
among the languages OF Europe aud ASIA eOIheuehces
with the North American and Basque tongues,
the for thumb, finger palm hye, arm, SIX ten
&c. tue Eiruscan dice OF Toscanela Oens brought
to testify 20 the prmeval unity OF mankind
Rsidly examined, however, these condolences may
be cassed merely accidental IL Is no new experience
OF phlloogsts 10 meet with remarkable similarity III
words OF the same meaning IN different languages,
where there real connection OF derivation. There
wide variety IN the designation OF the hands, feet,
arms fingers, toes, &c In some American languages
are branches OF the human trunk = inc hands are
branches o the the nnges are sprouts OF leaves
the thumb an OF shoot In some languages the hhgefs
the children Of the hands the Hte DnReE being the
Youngest SOD, the little one the tIulnD sonnet mes
though less commonly being the eldest brother or The
stout Tie little finger OF the second hand Is ten
the ring fiuger-' the naIneess in some of the Id
World lauguages-anOug tue DakOtas Is merely " The
TO the lille fnger" The middle hnger is SO named
In many American languages. Three Is IN somo " the
middle OF the baud eight 5A5 tBo middle Of the hand
again" The forenger the fourth by lndlau reckoning
almost universally the index showing hDger aud hence
the number four very generay related 10 Tue dess
nation OF remote objects 1t Is BY no means certain,
however. that wora relating 10 hAhd Oh hIser w DC
found IN the maine for ave or eh OI aby ihteIHedtc
number IN every series Of Indian nuaeras. In many
languages the numbers above nyc are made by com
pounds OF that and the lower numbers. Nor Is Tue
adyerbia sflix pOstposon always the represeuta-
tive OF hand, hnger or ve Hence there is not the
unity IN North American languages Abundant
evidences were furnished by d. Trumbu ~ prove tuis
statement, Ia numerous INSTANCES oied there II
than one name In the same 20 for the same
nutneral, fog the same finger, &C. hew-Mexican aud
Californian Indians, by prenxed m. convert arms into
legs Ihe paper closed with long tabular. aud pro-