115 



two millions ; qimfa hunu, three millions. — — 

 This same simple and regular method is observed 

 in several other American languages, in which 

 the numerical expressions have no other defect, 

 than being extremely long, and very difficult to 

 be pronounced by European organs. The need 

 of reckoning is felt in a state of society greatly 

 anterior to that, which we so vaguely call the 

 state of civilization. 



Among that multitude of nations of the new 

 continent, with those modes of numeration we 

 are acquainted, there are some, who, according 

 to the missionaries, cannot count above twenty, 

 or thirty ; and who denote by the term many 

 whatever exceeds these numbers. But we are 

 assured at the same time, that, to designate a 

 hundred, these .nations make small heaps of 

 maize* of twenty grains each ; which evidently 

 proves, that the Jaruroes of the Oronoco, and the 

 Quaranis of Paraguay, reckon by twenties, as 

 well as the Mexicans and the Muyscas ; and that 

 from stupidity, or rather from that extreme men- 

 tarfhdolence peculiar to the most intelligent sa- 

 vages, they facilitate to themselves the numera- 

 tion of three twenties, or four twenties, by reck- 

 oning like children, either by the toes and fingers 

 of the feet and hands, or forming heaps of maize. 



* Hervas, Idea del Universo Aritmetka di tutte le Nazitmi 

 eonosciute, torn, xix, p. 96, 97, and 10(5, 



i 2 



