Note 3.—On Boloki Method of Counting
The numerals from 1 to 5 are declinable. The letter in brackets is the particle that changes according to the class of the noun used, e.g. two persons would be batu (ba) bale = persons two but two cloths would be bilamba (bi) bale = cloths two.
The numerals are: 1, (y) awi; 2, (i) bale; 3, (i) atu; 4, (i) ne; 5, (i) tanu; 6, motoba; 7, nsambu; 8, mwambi; 9, libwa; 10, jumu or mokangu mwawi = one tying; 11, jumu na (y) awi; 12, jumu na (i) bale; 20, mikangu mibale; 30, mikangu miatu; 40, mikangu mine; 50, mikangu mitanu; 60, mikangu motoba; 70, mikangu nsambu; 80, mikangu mwambi; 90, mikangu libwa; 100, nkama or munkama; 200, minkama mibale; 1000, nkutu yawi; 2000, nkutu ibale; 10,000, mokoko; 20,000, mikoko mibale.
The meaning of mikangu mibale (20) is, two tyings. 10 is often called mokangu mwawi = one tying, from kanga = to tie. It is the custom of the natives to roll their 15-inch brass rods (the currency) into a series of rings about 1½ inches in diameter, and these they run one on another, like split rings, until there are ten linked together, and they call that mokangu mwawi = one tying = 10.
The ordinal numerals are:
| Motu wa bo = | The person who is first, or the first person. |
| Motu wa bane = | The person who is four, or the fourth person. |
| Motu wa motoba = | The person who is six, or the sixth person. |
| Motu wa libwa = | the person who is nine, or the ninth person. |
| Motu wa mikangu mibale na wawi = | twenty-first person. |
To use a word of another class we will take elamba = cloth.
| Elamba ya bo = | the cloth that is one, or the first cloth. |
| Elamba ya bine = | the cloth that is four or the fourth cloth. |
| Elamba ya motoba = | the cloth that is six or the sixth cloth. |
| Elamba ya mikangu miatu na bibale = | the cloth that is thirty and two, or the 32nd cloth. |
The fingers are constantly used in counting. If a man wants to say thirty-four he will say mikangu (= tyings = tens) and hold up three fingers for those to whom he is speaking to say miatu (= three), na = and, hold up four fingers for them to say (i) ne (= four). The letter in brackets changes according to the class of the noun understood. By this means they ensure their hearers following and understanding them, and no one can afterwards plead that they did not hear the price properly, as any discrepancy between the number mentioned by the hearers and the number of fingers held up would be corrected at the time.
The way in which the Boloki folk use their fingers is somewhat irregular, and for the sake of clearness I draw two hands and number the fingers 1 to 10—1 to 5 left hand, and 6 to 10 right hand. 1 and 10 are the thumbs. The right hand is used more than the left.
One is expressed by doubling 6, 7, 8, and putting 10 over them, thus leaving 9, the index finger, standing alone.
Two, by doubling down 6 and 7 and putting 10 over them, thus leaving 8 and 9 standing.
Three, by doubling down 9 and putting 10 over it, leaving 6, 7, and 8 standing.
Four, by putting 10 at the bottom of the division between 7 and 8, that causes 6 and 7 to come forward a little, so the hand is turned about that the two sets of two fingers may be clearly seen.
Five, the whole of the fingers of the right hand are left standing with the palm turned towards the person to whom you are speaking.
Six, by doubling down 2 on the left hand and putting 1 over it, so leaving 3, 4, and 5 standing, and doubling down 9 on the right hand and putting 10 over it, so leaving 6, 7, and 8 standing, thus making two sets of three fingers.
LEFT HAND - RIGHT HAND
Seven, the same as 4 with the right hand and doubling down 2 on the left hand and putting 1 over it, thus making a 4 and a 3.
Eight, by working the right hand as under 4 and putting 1 at the bottom of the division between 3 and 4, and twisting the hands about so that the four sets of two fingers may be clearly seen.
Nine, by holding up the fingers of the right hand as under 5 and putting 1 at the division between 3 and 4, and twisting the left hand about to show the two sets of two fingers.
Ten, by holding all the fingers of the two hands with the palms towards the auditors, and every folding down of the fingers and re-spreading of them means another 10. Second way—by clapping the hands together, and every clap stands for 10. Third, and more frequent method—by holding out the fist of the right hand, and every decided shake of the fist stands for ten.
Eleven, by shaking the right fist and holding up one finger as described under one.
Twelve, by shaking the right fist and holding up two fingers as described under two; and so on.
The toes are very rarely used in counting. I have only seen them used when counting 20,000, and then the man stretched down and put the fingers of both hands on the toes of both of his feet and said: mikoko mibale = 20,000. Sometimes, when trying to give me an idea of vast numbers, they would say: “It will take all our fingers and toes to tell you,” i.e. tens of thousands.
For addition and subtraction under 10 they use their fingers, but for higher numbers they use palm nuts, or anything suitable to hand. This is not because they are incapable of adding and subtracting mentally, but because they are so suspicious of each other that they want an ocular proof that the sum is right, and that neither one is getting the better of the other. Those who know figures and can run through their arithmetical tables accept each other’s sums, but in transactions with the untaught they resort to the fingers and palm nuts for counting.
They always count by fives and tens, e.g. if a person wants to make up 26 brass rods he will take 3 rods and then put 2 with the 3 and push that 5 on one side, he will make another 5 in the same way, and then put the two fives together, making 10, and then make two more fives and put those together, keeping, however, the tens separate, then another 5 is made by the 3 and 2 process, and at last 1 put down. Then the two tens are counted, and the 5, and lastly the 1.