236 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [BTH. ANN. 18 
The intertribal communication between the mainland Alaskan Eskimo 
and the constant trade carried on among 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, however, 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 persous 
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 even 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 
