Indian Antiquary Vol 26

SR No.: 032518
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1897.
inland communities) reckon by pairs, scores, and four-hundreds, the corresponding terins employed bearing to some extent a family resemblance; while other objects (with a few exceptions shortly to be mentioned) are reckoned by scures. In the remaining three dialects the systems somewhat differ :-Car Nicobar reckons by pairs, scores, two-hundreds, four-hundreds, two-thousands, and twenty-thousands ; Chowra by pairs, scores, two-hundreds, two-thousands, and four-thousands; Teressa and Bompoka, by pairs, scores, two-hundreds and twothousands.
Another point to note is that in the Central Group) the term dòktaiwhen referring to cocoanuts, money, and edible birds'-nests signifies 200, but it can be employed only with momchiana signifying 400 : it cannot, therefore, be used in reference to the above objects for any less number than 600 (Ex. :-hëang-momchiama-dòktai=1 X 400 + 200). Employed, however, with other objects, e. g., men, huts, paddles, etc., dòktai denotes 10 only; but, as in the former case it can be used only with momchiama, which then signifies 20, and therefore the lowest Dumber for which it can be employed is 30 (Ex.:- heang momchiama-doktai-yuang-paiyuhio=1 x 20 + 10 (lit., fruit)-men.
Two only of the six dialects - and these the most widely apart - vit., the Car Nicobar and the Shom Pen (i. e., the inland tribe of the Great Nicobar) adopt the Malay system of counting from 11 to 19 inclusive, vix., 1 (and) 10,2 (and) 10, 3 (and) 10, etc., whereas the four other dialects have the Burmese system, vis., 10 (and) 1, 10 (and) 2, 10 (and) 3, etc. 11
None of the numerical terms employed in the dialect of the Central Group express a second meaning except tajual (6), which also signifies "pair, couple;" but when employed in the latter sense no confusion is possible, as it is invariably preceded by one or other of the numerals from heang (1) to heang-hata (9) inclusive. E... :-tafüal-tafüal-heang = 13 (lit., 6 pairs + 1).
With the exception of the term lale, the only numeral which appears to be of foreign derivation is that denoting 7 (issát in the Central Group and sát at Car Nicobar), which resembles the corresponding equivalent in the Indian languages proper (sát), but this, doubtless, in the absence of any more satisfactory evidence, is a mere coincidence.
In order to exhibit, by way of contrast, two of the somowhat diverse systems of numeration employed in these dialects the terms used in the Central Group and at Car Nicobar will now be. shewn in parallel columns. With reference to the foregoing explanations the terms preceded by (a) represent those that are employed in relation to cocoanuts, money, and edible birds'nests, while the terms preceded by (b) represent those that are used in speaking of other objects, c.g., men, animals, huts, canoes, baskets, spears, etc.
Table of Comparative Numeration. CENTRAL GROUP.
CAR NICOBAR. (a) bēang ... ... . "
(a) heng (b) hēang ...
(6) kahok (a) hēang-tafual (lit., one pair) (a) heng-tahdl (lit., one pair) (6) au... ... ...
(6) neät (a) bēang-tafūal-hēang (lit., one pair (a) heng-tahdl-heng (lit., one pair (and) (and) one).
13 one) (6) lõe (or lue) ... ... ... (6) lue
es
• This is due to the Nicobarono practice of tying two cocoanuts together by means of a strip of the husk of enah, the object being for convenience of carrying them on a pole over the shoulder, or of allowing a quantity to be carried together in either hand,
This diverse use of the terms momchiama and doktai, when the context is knowu, causeb o confusion. (Per. haps the simplest explanation would be that doktai when used with momchiama signifies "half plus." - ED.)
10 The use of this and other numeral co-eficients will shortly be explained.
11 [This use of what have been called the direct and inverse methods of enumeration concurrently on one grcap of Islands is most interesting vide Knott, the Abacus, in Tranu. Anatic Soc. of Japan, Vol. XIV. p. 40.- Ep.]