As if to emphasize the rarity of this method of forming numerals, the Jiviros afterward discarded the last five of the above scale, replacing them by words borrowed from the Quichuas, or ancient Peruvians.  The same process may have been followed by other tribes, and in this way numerals which were originally digital may have disappeared.  But we have no evidence that this has ever happened in any extensive manner.  We are, rather, impelled to accept the occasional numerals of this class as exceptions to the general rule, until we have at our disposal further evidence of an exact and critical nature, which would cause us to modify this opinion.  An elaborate philological study by Dr. J.H.  Trumbull[86] of the numerals used by many of the North American Indian tribes reveals the presence in the languages of these tribes of a few, but only a few, finger names which are used without change as numeral expressions also.  Sometimes the finger gives a name not its own to the numeral with which it is associated in counting—­as in the Chippeway dialect, which has nawi-nindj, middle of the hand, and nisswi, 3; and the Cheyenne, where notoyos, middle finger, and na-nohhtu, 8, are closely related.  In other parts of the world isolated examples of the transference of finger names to numerals are also found.  Of these a well-known example is furnished by the Zulu numerals, where “tatisitupa, taking the thumb, becomes a numeral for six.  Then the verb komba, to point, indicating the forefinger, or ‘pointer,’ makes the next numeral, seven.  Thus, answering the question, ’How much did your master give you?’ a Zulu would say, ‘U kombile,’ ’He pointed with his forefinger,’ i.e. ‘He gave me seven’; and this curious way of using the numeral verb is also shown in such an example as ‘amahasi akombile,’ ‘the horses have pointed,’ i.e. ‘there were seven of them.’  In like manner, Kijangalobili, ‘keep back two fingers,’ i.e. eight, and Kijangalolunje, ‘keep back one finger,’ i.e. nine, lead on to kumi, ten."[87]

Returning for a moment to the consideration of number systems in the formation of which the influence of the hand has been paramount, we find still further variations of the method already noticed of constructing names for the fives, tens, and twenties, as well as for the intermediate numbers.  Instead of the simple words “hand,” “foot,” etc., we not infrequently meet with some paraphrase for one or for all these terms, the derivation of which is unmistakable.  The Nengones,[88] an island tribe of the Indian Ocean, though using the word “man” for 20, do not employ explicit hand or foot words, but count

   1. sa.
   2. rewe.
   3. tini.
   4. etse.
   5. se dono = the end (of the first hand).
   6. dono ne sa = end and 1.
   7. dono ne rewe = end and 2.
   8. dono ne tini = end and 3.
   9. dono ne etse = end and 4.
  10. rewe tubenine = 2 series (of fingers).
  11. rewe tubenine ne sa re tsemene = 2 series and 1 on the next?
  20. sa re nome = 1 man.
  30. sa re nome ne rewe tubenine = 1 man and 2 series.
  40. rewe ne nome = 2 men.