The intercourse of the coast tribes with traders
might furnish an explanation of the difficulty were it not for the fact
that the numeration of the inland tribes is quite as well developed as that
of the coast tribes; and as the former never come in contact with traders
and never engage in barter of any kind except in the most limited way, the
conclusion seems inevitable that this is merely one of the phenomena of
mental development among savage races for which we have at present no
adequate explanation. The principal numerals of the inland and of the coast
tribes are:[356]
INLAND TRIBES COAST TRIBES
10. teya. 10. sham.
20. heng-inai. 20. heang-inai.
30. heng-inai-tain 30. heang-inai-tanai
= 20 + 5 (couples). = 20 + 5 (couples).
40. au-inai = 2 x 20. 40. an-inai = 2 x 20.
100. tain-inai = 5 x 20. 100. tanai-inai = 5 x 20.
200. teya-inai = 10 x 20. 200. sham-inai = 10 x 20.
300. teya-tain-inai 300. heang-tanai-inai
= (10 + 5) x 20. = (10 + 5) 20.
400. heng-teo. 400. heang-momchiama.
In no other part of the world is vigesimal counting found so perfectly
developed, and, among native races, so generally preferred, as in North and
South America.
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