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Table of Contents

The Florida Indians can count, by their system, indefinitely. Their system of numeration is quinary, as will appear from the following list:

1.	Hûm-kin.
2.	Ho-ko-lin.
3.	To-tei-nin.
4.	Os-tin.
5.	Tsaq-ke-pin.
6.	I-pa-kin.
7.	Ko-lo-pa-kin.
8.	Tci-na-pa-kin
9.	Os-ta-pa-kin.
10.	Pa-lin.
11.	Pa-lin-hûm-kin, i.e., ten one, &c.
20.	Pa-li-ho-ko-lin, i.e., two tens.

As a guide towards a knowledge of the primitive manner of counting the method used by an old man in his intercourse with me will serve. He wished to count eight. He first placed the thumb of the right hand upon the little finger of the left, then the right forefinger upon the next left hand finger, then the thumb on the next finger, and the forefinger on the next, and then the thumb upon the thumb; leaving now the thumb of the right hand resting upon the thumb of the left, he counted the remaining numbers on the right hand, using for this purpose the fore and middle fingers of the left; finally he shut the fourth and little fingers of the right hand down upon its palm, and raising his hands, thumbs touching, the counted fingers outspread, he showed me eight as the number of horses of which I had made inquiry.