Hence we at once reject the theory that Australian arithmetic, or Australian counting, is essentially peculiar.

It is simply a legitimate result, such as might be looked for in any part of the world, of the barbarism in which the races of that quarter of the world were sunk, and in which they were content to live.
The following examples of Australian and Tasmanian number systems show how scanty was the numerical ability possessed by these tribes, and illustrate fully their tendency to count by twos or pairs.
MURRAY RIVER.[170] 1.

enea.
2.

petcheval.
3.

petchevalenea = 2-1.
4.