classes, taken from the Heiltsuk dialect.[141] It appears from these
examples that the number of classes is unlimited."

+-----------------------+-------------+--------------+--------------+
| | One. | Two. | Three. |
+-----------------------+-------------+--------------+--------------+
|Animate. |menok |maalok |yutuk |
|Round. |menskam |masem |yutqsem |
|Long. |ments'ak |mats'ak |yututs'ak |
|Flat. |menaqsa |matlqsa |yutqsa |
|Day. |op'enequls |matlp'enequls |yutqp'enequls |
|Fathom. |op'enkh |matlp'enkh |yutqp'enkh |
|Grouped together. |---- |matloutl |yutoutl |
|Groups of objects. |nemtsmots'utl|matltsmots'utl|yutqtsmots'utl|
|Filled cup. |menqtlala |matl'aqtlala |yutqtlala |
|Empty cup. |menqtla |matl'aqtla |yutqtla |
|Full box. |menskamala |masemala |yutqsemala |
|Empty box. |menskam |masem |yutqsem |
|Loaded canoe. |mentsake |mats'ake |yututs'ake |
|Canoe with crew. |ments'akis |mats'akla |yututs'akla |
|Together on beach. |---- |maalis |---- |
|Together in house, etc.|---- |maalitl |---- |
+-----------------------+-------------+--------------+--------------+

Variation in numeral forms such as is exhibited in the above tables is not
confined to any one quarter of the globe; but it is more universal among
the British Columbian Indians than among any other race, and it is a more
characteristic linguistic peculiarity of this than of any other region,
either in the Old World or in the New. It was to some extent employed by
the Aztecs,[142] and its use is current among the Japanese; in whose