The Number Concept: Its Origin and Development Part 36

10. athi.

20. otsi.

30. ots da athi = 20 + 10.

40. or-m-otsi = 2 20.

50. ormots da athi = 40 + 10.

60. sam-otsi = 3 20.

70. samots da athi = 60 + 10.

80. othch-m-otsi = 4 20.

90. othmots da athi = 80 + 10.

100. asi.

1000. ath-asi = 10 100.

LAZI

10. wit.

20. ots.

30. ots do wit = 20 10.

40. dzur en ots = 2 20.

50. dzur en ots do wit = 40 + 10.

60. dzum en ots = 3 20.

70. dzum en ots do wit = 60 + 10.

80. otch-an-ots = 4 20.

100. os.

1000. silia (akin to Greek).

CHUNSAG.[350]

10. ants-go.

20. chogo.

30. chogela antsgo = 20 + 10.

40. kichogo = 2 20.

50. kichelda antsgo = 40 + 10.

60. taw chago = 3 20.

70. taw chogelda antsgo = 60 + 10.

80. uch' chogo = 4 20.

90. uch' chogelda antsgo.

100. nusgo.

1000. asargo (akin to Persian).

DIDO.[351]

10. zino.

20. ku.

30. kunozino.

40. kaeno ku = 2 20.

50. kaeno kuno zino = 40 + 10.

60. sonno ku = 3 20.

70. sonno kuno zino = 60 + 10.

80. uino ku = 4 20.

90. uino huno zino = 80 + 10.

100. bischon.

400. kaeno kuno zino = 40 10.

AKARI

10. entzelgu.

20. kobbeggu.

30. lowergu.

40. kokawu = 2 20.

50. kikaldanske = 40 + 10.

60. secikagu.

70. kawalkaldansku = 3 20 + 10.

80. onkuku = 4 20.

90. onkordansku = 4 20 + 10.

100. nosku.

1000. askergu (from Persian).

CIRCa.s.sIA

10. psche.

20. to-tsch.

30. totsch-era-pschirre = 20 + 10.

40. ptl'i-sch = 4 10.

50. ptl'isch-era-pschirre = 40 + 10.

60. chi-tsch = 6 10.

70. chitsch-era-pschirre = 60 + 10.

80. tos.h.i.+tl = 20 4?

90. tos.h.i.+tl-era-pschirre = 80 + 10.

100. scheh.

1000. min (Tartar) or schi-psche = 100 10.

The last of these scales is an unusual combination of decimal and vigesimal. In the even tens it is quite regularly decimal, unless 80 is of the structure suggested above. On the other hand, the odd tens are formed in the ordinary vigesimal manner. The reason for this anomaly is not obvious. I know of no other number system that presents the same peculiarity, and cannot give any hypothesis which will satisfactorily account for its presence here. In nearly all the examples given the decimal becomes the leading element in the formation of all units above 100, just as was the case in the Celtic scales already noticed.

Among the northern tribes of Siberia the numeral scales appear to be ruder and less simple than those just examined, and the counting to be more consistently vigesimal than in any scale we have thus far met with. The two following examples are exceedingly interesting, as being among the best ill.u.s.trations of counting by twenties that are to be found anywhere in the Old World.

TSCHUKSCHI.[352]

10. migitken = both hands.

20. chlik-kin = a whole man.

30. chlikkin mingitkin parol = 20 + 10.

40. nirach chlikkin = 2 20.

100. milin chlikkin = 5 20.

200. mingit chlikkin = 10 20, _i.e._ 10 men.

1000. miligen chlin-chlikkin = 5 200, _i.e._ five (times) 10 men.