THOMAS] DISCUSSION AND COMPARISONS 921 
counts herein given. This, for example, is probably true of the Tuas- 
tecan count, where the simple term 77 is used to denote 1,000, and also 
in the count from 200 to 900 in this system and in some others. 
All the preceding lists showing the count from 10 upward which 
belong to the Mexican and Mayan groups, except that of the Tarahu- 
mari, pertain to the vigesimal system and in method of counting bear 
a strong general resemblance one to another, yet when they are closely 
examined minor differences are found which have an important bear- 
ing on the question of the origin and relationship of these systems. 
Of these variations we notice the following: 
The Nahuatl count follows strictly the quinary-vigesimal system, as 
has been already stated, 5 and 15, as well as 20, being basal numbers. 
The count is always from a lower number, that is to say, the minor 
numbers are always added to a number passed; thus +1 and 42 are 
formed by adding 1 and 2 to 40, and not by counting the 1 and 2 on 
the next or third score, as we have seen was the rule among some 
of the Mayan tribes, as the Maya proper or Yueatee, the Quiche, 
Cakchiquel, Pokonchi, Quekchi, Mam, Ixil, and probably most. of 
the southern tribes of the group, but not among the Huasteca, who 
formed the northern offshoot. The count of the latter, though, like 
the others of the Mayan group, fundamentally vigesimal to 900, is, like 
the Nahuatl, by additions of the minor numbers to x number passed 
as 20-+-10 to form 80 and 2X 20+-10 to form 50. The numeral system 
of the Mayan tribes generally differed from the Nahuatl, Zapotec, 
Mazatee, Trike, Mixe, and Zoque systems—all of which are regularly 
quinary-vigesimal, and generally add the minor numbers to the pre- 
ceding base—in being more nearly decimal-vigesimal, and in adding 
the numbers above 40 to the following base, as 1 on the third score, or 
third 20, to form 41. In the Mayan dialects the count is never based 
on 5 except, as has heretofore been suggested, from 6 to 8, and in 
one dialect from 6 to 9 So far, therefore, as these differences are 
concerned, they tend toward grouping together the systems of the 
Nahuatlan, Zapotecan, and Zoquean tribes, as contrasted with the 
Mayan: but the term Nahuatlan is used here as referring only to 
the stock in its limited sense—the Aztecan branch—as the rule does 
not hold good throughout, when we pass into the Sonoran branch. 
However, the grouping on these points is interesting as it is in 
harmony with other data. 
In one peculiarity, however, the Zapotec count differs from the 
Nahuatl and approaches the Mayan systems. From 55-59, 75-79, and 
95-99 the numbers are obtained by subtraction from the next higher 
base—thus, for 55 they say ce-caa guiona or ce-caayo quiona, that is, 
5 from 60. For 56-59, 76-79, and 95-99 they have two methods of 
counting—thus for 56 they say ce-caayo quiona-bi-tobi; that is, 5 from 
