160 Transactions. 



former system of vigesimal numeration liave been observed 

 in Oriental lands — in south - eastern Asia, Cambodia, and 

 Malaysia — but long overlaid by the decimal system. The 

 Cambodia system, as given by Aymonier, much resembles 

 that of the Maori. There are characters for each of the nine 

 digits, for twenty, and for a hundred (and presumably for ten). 

 " The character for twenty is distinct, and not two tens. In 

 order to indicate thirty-seven, there is first tlie character for 

 twenty, then for ten, and last for seven." All this is the 

 same as the Maori system. He goes on to say that forty is 

 two twenties, sixty is three twenties, &c., there being a 

 separate character for a hundred. " A mingling of the two' 

 systems is apparent in some of the examples given by 

 Aymonier," &c. Now, this is just the Maori case. We note 

 how the vigesimal and the tojni or binary methods are some- 

 times confused by Natives, not in the special terms for scores 

 so much as in the intermediate items. Doubtless, however, 

 much of this confusion arises from the fact that these old- 

 time methods of the Maori have been laid aside in favour of 

 the decimal system introduced by Europeans, albeit the latter 

 system is expressed in purely Maori terms. The older gene- 

 ration of living Natives can only recall the old-time numerical 

 terms by an effort of memory ; indeed, some have forgotten 

 many of them. The younger generation know practically 

 nothing of these matters. It is when an old Native is repeat- 

 ing tribal traditions, &c., that one hears quotations from the 

 old numerical systems, but seldom under other circumstances. 



Professor Thomas states that among the Maya people 

 " Tiie numbers from one to eleven had specific names, but 

 from twelve to nineteen [were formed] by the addition of 

 units. There was a specific name for twenty, four hundred, 

 and four thousand. Numbers from twenty to four hundred 

 were formed mostly by twenty as the multiple, and units." 

 He notes some confusion, however, and evidence of the 

 quinary and decimal systems. 



In vol. xi. of the " Polynesian Journal " Mr. Large men- 

 tions a vigesimal system used by the Natives of Aitutaki, 

 which is practically the same as that of the New Zealand 

 Maori, the same terms being used, although the Cook Islands 

 dialect has lost the /; and aspirated iv, the iv having become v. 

 In that system okorua = forty, okotoru = sixty, and so on. 



In the same volume Mr. Percy Smith states that the 

 Natives of Nine counted fish by twenties, te kau (or "two 

 tens ") being the tern-i used, though it would appear that 

 tekau was a specific tei'm for twenty, and not "two tens." 

 Was kau = ten, and te a plural, or " two," that tekau should 

 be given as = two tens? Elsewhere it appears to be a 

 special term for twenty. Tekau does not appear in the Nine- 



