Chap, xviii ] METHODS OF COUNTING. 395 



reached by the natives, before 8 and 9 have been named. 

 This method of forming the numerals 8 and 9 is known amongst 

 other distant races, such as the Ainos, and some North 

 American races, but apparently does not occur amongst either 

 Polynesians or other Melanesians. It is, however, found in the 

 language of one Micronesian island, Yap in the Caroline Group. 



In counting objects, the natives clap their hands, held with 

 the fingers pointed forwards and closed side by side, once when 

 ten is reached, twice when twenty is pronounced, thrice for 

 thirty, and so on. Up to ten counting is done on the fingers, 

 and after that, 10, 11, etc., are reckoned on the toes. 



The idea of counting on the feet as well as the hands still 

 survives in Great Britain. An Irish car-driver in Co. Mayo, a 

 few winters ago, used the expression to me, " as many times as 

 I could count on my fingers and toes " for a score. The use 

 of the toes in counting is apt to seem extraordinary to civilized 

 Europeans, who constantly wear boots and shoes, and sit on 

 chairs. The majority of mankind who squat on the floor or 

 ground, and have their toes generally exposed, and from their 

 posture near to their hands, naturally pass to the toes in count- 

 ing, after having exhausted the hands. 



To express affirmation, the natives jerk the head up, as at 

 Fiji. Negation is expressed by a most extraordinary and 

 peculiar method. The nose is struck on its side by the ex- 

 tended forefinger of the right hand, the motion being as if the 

 tip of the nose were to be cut or knocked off. This sign was 

 invariably used to express refusal of proffered barter, or that 

 a native had not got some article asked for. It is capable of 

 various modifications. The quick decided negative is given by 

 a smart quick stroke on the nose. In the doubtful, hesitating 

 negative, the finger dwells on its way, and is rubbed slowly 

 across the nose. 



The men average about 5 feet 5 inches in height, and the 

 women about 5 feet i. They contrast at once with the Papuans 

 of Humboldt Bay, in being far thinner and lankier. Three 

 men who were weighed, averaged only nine stone (137 lbs.) in 

 weight. I saw but one native who was at all fleshy, although 

 such were not uncommon at Humboldt Bay. Food is perhaps 

 not so abundant here as on the New Guinea coast, and the 

 natives had not, like the Papuans, the advantage of bows and 

 arrows to kill game with. 



The usual colour of the natives is a black-brown, often very 

 dark, and darker than that of the Papuans of Humboldt Bay. 

 The young girls and young boys appear much lighter as a rule 

 than the adults. Some one or two of the young women were 

 of a quite light yellowish-brown, as was also one young man. 



