If savage man is universally right-handed, he will almost inevitably use the index finger of his right hand to mark the fingers counted, and he will begin his count just where it is most convenient.

In his case it is with the little finger of the left hand.

In the case of the child trying to multiply 3 by 6, it was with the thumb of the same hand.

He had nothing to tuck under his arm; so, in raising his left hand to a position where both eye and counting finger could readily run over its fingers, he held the palm turned away from his face.

The same choice of starting-point then followed as with the savage--the finger nearest his right hand; only in this case the finger was a thumb.