Counting, Currency and Trade
Counting.
Mafulu counting is accomplished by the use of two numerals (one and
two) and of the word "another" and of their hands and feet [95];
and with these materials they have phraseology for counting up to
twenty as follows:--
1 = _Fida_ (one).
2 = _Gegedo_ (two).
3 = _Gegedo minda_ (two and another).
4 = _Gegedo ta gegedo_ (two and two).
5 = _Gegedo ta gegedo minda_ (two and two and another) [or _Bodo fida_
(one hand)].
6 = _Gegedo ta gegedo ta gegedo_ (two and two and two).
7 = _Gegedo ta gegedo ta gegedo minda_ (two and two and two and
another) [or _Bodo fida ta gegedo_ (one hand and two) ].
8 = _Gegedo ta gegedo ta gegedo ta gegedo_ (two and two and two and
two) [or _Bodo fida ta gegedo minda_ (one hand and two and another) ].
9 = _Gegedo ta gegedo ta gegedo ta gegedo minda_ (two and two and
two and two and another) [or _Bodo fida ta gegedo ta gegedo_ (one
hand and two and two) ].
10 = _Bodo gegedo_ (two hands).
11 = _Bodo gegedov' u minda_ (two hands and another). [Note the "v"
at the end of gegedo. The full word is really _gegedove_; but it is
shortened to _gegedo_, unless the next word is a vowel. Also note the
"u." There are two words for "and," namely _ta_ and _une_. The "u"
here is the _une_ shortened, and put instead of _ta_ for euphony].
12 = _Bodo gegedo ta gegedo_ (two hands and two).
13 = _Bodo gegedo ta gegedo minda_ (two hands and two and another).
14 = _Bodo gegedo ta gegedo ta gegedo_ (two hands and two and two).
15 = _Bodo gegedo ta jovari fida_ (two hands and one foot).
16 = _Bodo gegedo ta jovari fidari u minda_ (two hands and one foot
and another). [Note the "n" at the end of _fida_. The full word is
really _fidane_, and the "n" is introduced here for euphony.]
17 = _Bodo gegedo ta jovari fida ta gegedo_ (two hands and one foot
and two).
18 = _Bodo gegedo ta jovari fida ta gegedo minda_ (two hands and one
foot and two and another).
19 = _Bodo gegedo ta jovari fida ta gegedo ta gegedo_ (two hands and
one foot and two and two).
20 = _Bodo gegedo ta jovari gegedo_ (two hands and two feet).
As regards these numerals it will be seen that in some cases
alternatives are given, whilst in other cases, where corresponding
alternatives would appear to be equally applicable, they are not given;
the reason is that in these latter cases the alternatives do not in
fact appear to be used.
There is no numerical phraseology to indicate any number above twenty;
and in the ordinary affairs of life, although numeration can be carried
in this cumbrous way up to twenty, they rarely use the numerals beyond
ten, and anything over that will be referred to as _tale, tale, tale,
tale_ (which may be translated "plenty, plenty, plenty, plenty").
Important counting, such as that of pigs at a feast, is accomplished
by the actual use of the hands and feet. The fingers stretched open
mean nothing; Closing down the thumb of the right hand indicates
one; closing down also the first finger of that hand indicates two;
and so on with the other fingers of the right hand, till you reach
the closing down of the thumb and all the fingers of the right hand,
which indicates five. Then, keeping all the right hand closed, they
begin with the left hand also. Closing down only the thumb indicates
six; and so on as before, until the thumbs and all the fingers of
both hands are closed, which indicates ten. [96]
Then they go to the feet. They keep both hands closed and together,
and with the right fist they point to the toes, beginning with the
big toe of the right foot, and so along the other toes of that foot,
and then go to the big toe of the left foot, and so along the other
toes of that foot, thus reaching the enumerative total of twenty. They
do not, when wishing to indicate a number, simply place their fingers
and hands and feet simultaneously in the requisite position for doing
so. They always go through the whole process of finger and toe counting
from the beginning. For example, to indicate eight, they turn in the
thumb and all the fingers of the right hand, and afterwards the thumb
and two fingers of the left hand, separately, and one alter another,
until the right position is reached; and similarly as regards numbers
over ten, they solemnly turn down all the fingers one after another,
and then point to the toes one after another, until they get to the
right one for indicating the desired number. When the fingers and
toes of the person counting are exhausted, he has recourse to those
of another person, if he wishes to count further, although he has
then passed the limit of numerical phraseology. For the purpose of
counting big numbers they are always sitting, and as in counting they
exhaust hands and feet, the latter are put together, If, for example,
they reach eighty, there are four men sitting, with all their hands
and feet crowded together; and if the number be eighty-three, there
is also a fifth man with a thumb and two fingers of his right hand
closed up. Sometimes a number above ten, but not over twenty, is
indicated with the hands only by counting up to ten in the ordinary
way, and then opening all the fingers and counting again, until they
reach the requisite amount in excess of ten.
I do not think it can be said that these people have in their minds any
real abstract idea of number, at all events beyond twenty. Each finger
turned down and toe pointed to, in succession, seems to represent
to their minds the article (_e.g._, a pig) which is counted, rather
than a step in a process of mental addition. But this is a matter upon
which I can only express myself in a very general way; and indeed the
mental stage at which the mere physical idea of the objects counted
has developed into the abstract idea of numbers would in any case be
exceedingly difficult to ascertain, or even, perhaps, to define.
They never use pebbles or sticks or anything else of that kind,
and have no method of recording numbers or anything else by notching
sticks; and they have no weights or measures.
Currency and Trade.
The Mafulu people have no currency in the true sense, every transaction
being one of exchange; but nevertheless some specific articles,
especially some of the dearer ones, can only be acquired by the
offering of certain other specific articles, and certain things have
definite recognised relative values for the purpose of exchange.
As examples of the former of these statements, I may say that a pig
used to be always paid for in dogs' teeth--though this practice is
not now, I think, so strict--and that some of their finer head feather
dancing ornaments and ornamental nose pieces can still only be paid for
in dogs' teeth; also that there is a special kind of feather ornament,
composed of many small feathers fixed in a line on a string, which can
only be obtained in exchange for a particular sort of shell necklace.
As examples of recognised relative values, I may state that the proper
payment in dogs' teeth for a pig is a chain of dogs' teeth equal in
length to the body of the pig, the latter being measured from the
tip of its nose to the base of its tail; and that the payment for
the special feather ornament is its own length of the corresponding
shell necklace.
Exchange and barter is generally only engaged in between members of
different communities, and not between those of the same community. An
apparent exception to this arises in the purchase of pigs at certain
ceremonies above referred to; but in this case it is really a matter of
ceremony, and not one of ordinary barter. There are no regular markets,
such as exist in some other parts of the country, the exchange of goods
being effected by one or more individuals going with their articles
of exchange to some other community, where they hope to get what they
require. The nearest approach to a market arises intermittently when
there is to be a big feast. Then the communities giving, and invited
to, the feast require a large supply of ornaments, especially for
those who are going to dance, and probably do not possess a sufficient
quantity. They therefore have to procure these ornaments elsewhere;
and the natural place to go to is some other community, possibly a
long way off, which has recently been in the same want of extensive
ornaments for a feast, and has procured and used them, and now has
them, so to speak, in stock, and will be glad to dispose of them
again. Thus ornaments used for feasts are sold and resold and travel
about the country very extensively.