932 NUMERAL SYSTEMS (ETH. ANN.19 
the family distinctions, we notice here and there slight indications of 
the influence of intercourse. 
Numbers 44 to 48, which pertain to the extreme southern dialects, 
are added merely for the purpose of comparison. The first four (44 
to 47), are classed with the Chibcha stock, among which the vigesimal 
system prevailed. 
In the tribes from the Mexican boundary northward, with the excep- 
tion of those pertaining to the Nahuatlan group, most of which have 
been noticed, we find nothing in the numerals, so far as the data at hand 
show, to indicate any relationship other than that in accordance with 
the linguistic classification proposed by Major J.W. Powell. An appar- 
ent approach to the names in some of the Shoshonean dialects can be 
noticed in the Konkau, Nishinam, and Nakum dialects heretofore 
given. 
The count in two of these idioms is, as has been already mentioned, 
in part, at least, vigesimal. Compare the Nakum list with that of 
Shoshone (number 5). These tribes are included in Major Powell’s 
classification in his Pujunan family. The determination whether such 
resemblances are real or only apparent must be left to the linguists; 
I haye included them merely as material for comparison. 
Before closing this chapter attention is called to one point which, 
so far as I am aware, has not been discussed, but in regard to which 
I must acknowledge inability to offer an entirely satisfactory expla- 
nation. 
As hes been shown in my paper on the calendar systems, and by the 
evidence presented by Dr Férstemann and Mr Goodman, the Mayan 
priests, or at least the authors of the Dresden codex and the Mayan 
inscriptions, did actually perform computations reaching into the mil- 
lions, where the primary unit had necessarily to be retained, that is, 
could not be lost in higher units considered as measures. To illustrate: 
Take the following time count actually found in one of the Central 
American inscriptions: 8 cycles+14 katuns+3 ahaus-+-1 month+12 
days, to the day 1 Eb, the 5th day of the month Zac. As 1 cycle equals 
20 katuns, 1 katun equals 20 ahaus, 1 ahau equals 18 months, and 1 
month equals 20 days, we can find by calculation that 1 cycle=144,000 
days, 1 katun=7,200 days, and 1 ahau=360 days, and that the 8 cycles, 
14 katuns, 3 ahaus, 1 month, and 12 days added together equal 1,253,912 
days. The reader is familiar with the methods necessary to make this 
and all such computations. How did the Maya scribe or priest accom- 
plish it? As a particular day was to be reached and there were num- 
bers in each order of units, and the total had to be transferred into 
years of 365 days each, and the surplus months and days ascertained, it 
is apparent that it was necessary to reduce the whole to primary units— 
that is, to days—and then ascertain by division or in some other way, 
how many even years were contained therein, and how many months 
and days would be contained in the overplus. 
