Perhaps the number 11 is to be indicated, and indicated precisely.

A fresh mental effort is required of the ignorant child of nature; and the result is "all the fingers and one more," "both hands and one more," "one on another count," or some equivalent circumlocution.

If he has an independent word for 10, the result will be simply ten-one.

When this step has been taken, the base is established.

The savage has, with entire unconsciousness, made all his subsequent progress dependent on the number 10, or, in other words, he has established 10 as the base of his number system.