A careful examination of the numerals in upwards of a hundred Australian dialects leaves no doubt, however, that such is the fact.

The Australians in almost all cases count by pairs; and so pronounced is this tendency that they pay but little attention to the fingers.

Some tribes do not appear ever to count beyond 2--a single pair.
Many more go one step further; but if they do, they are as likely as not to designate their next numeral as two-one, or possibly, one-two.

If this step is taken, we may or may not find one more added to it, thus completing the second pair.

Still, the Australian's capacity for understanding anything which pertains to number is so painfully limited that even here there is sometimes an indefinite expression formed, as many, heap, or plenty, instead of any distinct numeral; and it is probably true that no Australian language contains a pure, simple numeral for 4.