[307]. Martius, ‘Gloss. Brasil,’ p. 15.
[308]. Kracheninnikow, ‘Kamtchatka,’ p. 17.
[309]. Gumilla, ‘Historia del Orenoco,’ vol. iii. ch. xlv.; Pott, ‘Zählmethode,’ p. 16.
[310]. The Eastern brokers have used for ages, and still use, the method of secretly indicating numbers to one another in bargaining, ‘by snipping fingers under a cloth.’ ‘Every joynt and every finger hath his signification,’ as an old traveller says, and the system seems a more or less artificial development of ordinary finger-counting, the thumb and little finger stretched out, and the other fingers closed, standing for 6 or 60, the addition of the fourth finger making 7 or 70, and so on. It is said that between two brokers settling a price by thus snipping with the fingers, cleverness in bargaining, offering a little more, hesitating, expressing an obstinate refusal to go farther, &c., comes out just as in chaffering in words.
[311]. Gilij; ‘Saggio di Storia Americana,’ vol. ii. p. 332 (Tamanac, Maypure). Martius, ‘Gloss. Brasil,’ (Cayriri, Tupi, Carib, Omagua, Juri, Guachi, Coretu, Cherentes, Maxuruna, Caripuna, Cauixana, Carajás, Coroado, &c.); Dobrizhoffer, ‘Abipones,’ vol. ii. p. 168; Humboldt, ‘Monumens,’ pl. xliv. (Muysca).
[312]. Cranz, ‘Grönland,’ p. 286; Kleinschmidt, ‘Gr. der Grönl. Spr.;’ Rae in ‘Tr. Eth. Soc.’ vol. iv. p. 145.
[313]. Milligan, l. c.; G. F. Moore, ‘Vocab. W. Australia.’ Compare a series of quinary numerals to 9, from Sydney, in Pott, ‘Zählmethode,’ p. 46.
[314]. Gabelentz, ‘Melanesiche Sprachen,’ p. 183.
[315]. W. v. Humboldt, ‘Kawi-Spr.’ vol. ii. p. 308; corroborated by ‘As. Res.’ vol. vi. p. 90; ‘Journ. Ind. Archip.’ vol. iii. p. 182, &c.
[316]. Kölle, ‘Gr. of Vei Lang.’ p. 27.