236 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 



The intertribal communication between the mainland Alaskan Eskimo 

 and the constant trade carried on amonj? them have developed consider- 

 able quickness in the use of numbers up to two or three hundred; this 

 is quite general with both old and young. Going beyond the numbers 

 ordinarily used in trade, how^ever, the most intelligent among them 

 become quickly confused. 



In order for them to count correctly it is necessary to have the objects 

 lying before them, and these are placed in groups of twenties as they 

 are counted. If required to count abstractly they soon become con- 

 fused after reaching one or two score; in this, however, there is great 

 individual variation. About the Bering strait region most boys of 10 

 or 12 years of age count objects very readily up to one hundred and 

 over, and some men can reach four hundred, but it is only among the 

 most intelligent natives of this section that four hundred can be 

 counted, and it is rare that attempt is made to exceed that number. 

 <" The Eskimo system of counting is based on a series of fives, rising 

 in this way to twenties. The fingers and toes furnish the counters for 

 computing numbers, as is explained below. Among the Unalit Eskimo, 

 as elsewhere among these people, there is great variability in indi- 

 vidual power. The most intelligent men and boys can count very 

 readily up to two hundred or more, while others seem incapable of 

 counting to twenty without blundering and repeated mistakes, like a 

 stupid, slow-witted child. At every mistake made by such persons 

 they are compelled to return and commence at one again, being 

 unable to hold the numbers clearly enough in mind to take them up at 

 intermediate points. Not feven the most intelligent among them seem 

 capable of counting readily beyond the number of his fingers and toes 

 without the aid of objects directly before him. For this purpose I 

 usually provided gun caps or matches, which served very conveniently 

 as markers. 



In counting such small objects they commonly placed them in groups 

 of five, and as four of these were completed they were swept into a 

 single large group of twenty; in this way successive twenties were 

 completed and kept separately. 



When making twenty the person would sometimes count the fives, 

 commencing each time at one, but the most intelligent usually counted 

 on to twenty, using the numerals of the regular series as given in the 

 list. When an Eskimo was asked to count up to twenty without using 

 fingers or toes, his eyes would seek, involuntarily, for something with 

 which to tally, and even when asked to count five his eyes would turn 

 at once to one of his hands, though he might make no visible use of his 

 fingers. 



In using the fingers and toes for counting, the closed hands are held in 

 front of the waist, palms down, and thumbs near together. Commenc 

 ing with the little finger of the right hand, as one, they pass to the left, 

 opening or extending each finger in succession as its number is called 



