zla, the moon, stands for Number 1.
lag, the hand, stands,, for Number,, 2.
mé, fire, stands,, for Number,, 3.
chhu, water, stands,, for Number,, 4.
mdah, an arrow, stands,, for Number,, 5.
dus, time, stands,, for Number,, 6.
ri, a hill, stands,, for Number,, 7.
sbrul, a serpent, stands,, for Number,, 8.
srin-po, a goblin, stands,, for Number,, 9.
phyogs, a corner (of the world), stands,, for Number,, 10.
Dragpo, the brave (Rudra), stands,, for Number,, 11.
Nyima, sun, stands,, for Number,, 12.
hdod-pa, lust, desire, stands,, for Number,, 13.
yid, the mind, stands,, for Number,, 14.
tshes, nyin-zhag, the 15th day of the lunar month, stands,, for Number,, 15.
Rgyalpo, a king, stands,, for Number,, 16.
nyes-pa, a blemish, stands,, for Number,, 18.
Rgyalva, a Buddha, stands,, for Number,, 24.
de-nyid, same self, stands,, for Number,, 25.
skar-ma, a star, stands,, for Number,, 27.
so, a tooth, stands,, for Number,, 32.
for zero, mkhah, void space, or: thig, a spot or stain, or: Stongpa, the vacuum, a zero.

It may be fitting to add here a few notes on the systems of reckoning time in use among the Tibetans, which the author noticed at page 147 of the appendix to his Grammar.

The Tibetans derived their astronomical and astrological knowledge, not from India only, but also from the Chinese people.

The mode of reckoning, according to the Indian system, is called by them “Karçis,” that derived from China, “Nakçis.” On both these systems are to be found numerous works in the Tibetan language.

The most common mode of reckoning time, especially in calculating the years of the present generation, or of determining the age of an individual, is that by the cycle of twelve years, in which each year is designated by the name of an animal, in this manner:— [[188]]

Tibetan. English.
1. byi-lo the mouse-year.
2. glang-lo the,, ox-year.
3. stag-lo the,, tiger-year.
4. yos-lo the,, hare-year.
5. hbrug-lo the,, dragon-year.
6. sbrul-lo the,, serpent-year.
7. rta-lo the,, horse-year.
8. lug-lo the,, sheep-year.
9. spré-lo the,, ape-year.
10. bya-lo the,, bird-year.
11. khyi-lo the,, dog-year.
12. phag-lo the,, hog-year.

But in books, in correspondence, and in every transaction of greater importance, the use of the cycle of sixty years has been adopted; and this system is twofold, the Indian and the Chinese.

The years of the Indian cycle, prevalent south of the Nermada river, exactly coincide with the Tibetan era, the Sanskrit names having been translated literally, but the Tibetans count the commencement of their first cycle from A.D. 1026; the Indians, on the contrary, date theirs from the Kaliyuga, and sometimes from the reign of Salivahana.

The Tibetans, like the Chinese, divide each year into lunar months, calling them first, second, third month, &c. During the period of each lunar cycle, which corresponds to nineteen solar years, they insert seven intercalary months, generally one in every third year, to make them agree with the solar years. In this manner the calculation exactly corresponds with the luni-solar system of the Hindus.

The Indian system differs from the Chinese in the mode of naming years. The Chinese nomenclature is made up by the names of five elements, and made ten by affixing the male and female termination to each, and this series is repeated six times; therefore 6 × 10 = 60.