The Number Concept: Its Origin and Development

Chapter III. The Eskimo languages are characteristically quinary-vigesimal in their number systems, but few of them present such perfect examples of that method of counting as do the two just mentioned.

10. koleet.

KAMTSCHATKA, SOUTH.[293]

1. dischak.

2. kascha.

3. tschook.

4. tschaaka.

5. k.u.mnaka.

6. ky"lkoka.

7. itatyk = 2 + 5.

8. tschookotuk = 3 + 5.

9. tschuaktuk = 4 + 5.

10. k.u.mechtuk = 5 + 5.

ALEUTS[294]

1. ataqan.

2. aljak.

3. qankun.

4. sitsin.

5. tsan = my hand.

6. atun = 1 + 5.

7. ulun = 2 + 5.

8. qamtsin = 3 + 5.

9. sitsin = 4 + 5.

10. hatsiq.

TCHIGLIT, MACKENZIE R.[295]

1. ataotcirkr.

2. aypak, or malloerok.

3. illaak, or pinatcut.

4. tcitamat.

5. tallemat.

6. arveneloerit.

7. arveneloerit-aypak = 5 + 2.

8. arveneloerit-illaak = 5 + 3.

9. arveneloerit-tcitamat = 5 + 4.

10. krolit.

SAHAPTIN (NEZ PERCES).[296]

1. naks.

2. lapit.

3. mitat.

4. pi-lapt = 2 2.

5. pachat.

6. oi-laks = [5] + 1.

7. oi-napt = [5] + 2.

8. oi-matat = [5] + 3.

9. koits.

10. putimpt.

GREENLAND.[297]

1. atauseq.

2. machdluq.

3. pinasut.

4. sisamat 5. tadlimat.

6. achfineq-atauseq = other hand 1.

7. achfineq-machdluq = other hand 2.

8. achfineq-pinasut = other hand 3.

9. achfineq-sisamat = other hand 4.

10. qulit.

11. achqaneq-atauseq = first foot 1.

12. achqaneq-machdluq = first foot 2.

13. achqaneq-pinasut = first foot 3.

14. achqaneq-sisamat = first foot 4.

15. achfechsaneq?

16. achfechsaneq-atauseq = other foot 1.

17. achfechsaneq-machdlup = other foot 2.

18. achfechsaneq-pinasut = other foot 3.

19. achfechsaneq-sisamat = other foot 4.

20. inuk navdlucho = a man ended.

Up to this point the Greenlander"s scale is almost purely quinary. Like those of which mention was made at the beginning of this chapter, it persists in progressing by fives until it reaches 20, when it announces a new base, which shows that the system will from now on be vigesimal. This scale is one of the most interesting of which we have any record, and will be noticed again in the next chapter. In many respects it is like the scale of the Point Barrow Eskimo, which was given early in Chapter III. The Eskimo languages are characteristically quinary-vigesimal in their number systems, but few of them present such perfect examples of that method of counting as do the two just mentioned.

CHIPPEWAY.[298]

1. bejig.

2. nij.

3. nisswi.

4. niwin.

5. nanun.

6. ningotwa.s.swi = 1 again?

7. nijwa.s.swi = 2 again?

8. nishwa.s.swi = 3 again?

9. janga.s.swi = 4 again?

10. mida.s.swi = 5 again.

Ma.s.sACHUSETTS.[299]

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