In Melanesia a few examples of preference for beginning with the thumb may also be noticed.

In the Banks Islands the natives begin by turning down the thumb of the right hand, and then the fingers in succession to the little finger, which is 5.

This is followed by the fingers of the left hand, both hands with closed fists being held up to show the completed 10.

In Lepers' Island, they begin with the thumb, but, having reached 5 with the little finger, they do not pass to the other hand, but throw up the fingers they have turned down, beginning with the forefinger and keeping the thumb for 10.[16] In the use of the single hand this people is quite peculiar.

The second 5 is almost invariably told off by savage tribes on the second hand, though in passing from the one to the other primitive man does not follow any invariable law.
He marks 6 with either the thumb or the little finger.