Thus, when we say "thirty," _i.e._ three-ten, we mean 3 x 10; just as "three hundred" means 3 x 100.

When the larger precedes the smaller, we must usually understand addition.

But to both these rules there are very many exceptions.

Among higher numbers the inverse order is very rarely used; though even here an occasional exception is found.

The Taensa Indians, for example, place the smaller numbers before the larger, no matter how far their scale may extend.