In the last chapter mention was made of the scanty numeral systems of the Australian tribes, but a single scale was alluded to as reaching the comparatively high limit of 20.  This system is that belonging to the Pikumbuls,[80] and the count runs thus: 

   1. mal.
   2. bular.
   3. guliba.
   4. bularbular = 2-2.
   5. mulanbu.
   6. malmulanbu mummi = 1 and 5 added on.
   7. bularmulanbu mummi = 2 and 5 added on.
   8. gulibamulanbu mummi = 3 and 5 added on.
   9. bularbularmulanbu mummi = 4 and 5 added on.
  10. bularin murra = belonging to the 2 hands.
  11. maldinna mummi = 1 of the toes added on (to the 10 fingers).
  12. bular dinna mummi = 2 of the toes added on.
  13. guliba dinna mummi = 3 of the toes added on.
  14. bular bular dinna mummi = 4 of the toes added on.
  15. mulanba dinna = 5 of the toes added on.
  16. mal dinna mulanbu = 1 and 5 toes.
  17. bular dinna mulanbu = 2 and 5 toes.
  18. guliba dinna mulanbu = 3 and 5 toes.
  19. bular bular dinna mulanbu = 4 and 5 toes.
  20. bularin dinna = belonging to the 2 feet.

As has already been stated, there is good ground for believing that this system was originally as limited as those obtained from other Australian tribes, and that its extension from 4, or perhaps from 5 onward, is of comparatively recent date.

A somewhat peculiar numeral nomenclature is found in the language of the Klamath Indians of Oregon.  The first ten words in the Klamath scale are:[81]

   1. nash, or nas.
   2. lap = hand.
   3. ndan.
   4. vunep = hand up.
   5. tunep = hand away.
   6. nadshkshapta = 1 I have bent over.
   7. lapkshapta = 2 I have bent over.
   8. ndankshapta = 3 I have bent over.
   9. nadshskeksh = 1 left over.
  10. taunep = hand hand?

In describing this system Mr. Gatschet says:  “If the origin of the Klamath numerals is thus correctly traced, their inventors must have counted only the four long fingers without the thumb, and 5 was counted while saying hand away! hand off! The ‘four,’ or hand high! hand up! intimates that the hand was held up high after counting its four digits; and some term expressing this gesture was, in the case of nine, substituted by ’one left over’ ... which means to say, ’only one is left until all the fingers are counted.’” It will be observed that the Klamath introduces not only the ordinary finger manipulation, but a gesture of the entire hand as well.  It is a common thing to find something of the kind to indicate the completion of 5 or 10, and in one or two instances it has already been alluded to.  Sometimes one or both of the closed fists are held up; sometimes the open hand, with all the fingers extended, is used; and sometimes an entirely independent gesture is introduced.  These are, in general, of no special importance; but