115 
two millions ; qim^a Imnu, three inillioiis. 
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 
Guaranis of Paraguay, reckon by twenties, as 
well as the Mexicans and the Muvscas ; and that 
from stupidity, or rather from that extreme men- 
tal indolence 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 Antmetlca di tufte le Nazimu 
conosciute, tom. xix, p. 90, 97, and 100. 
I 2 
