A decimal system of numeration was used, with numbers going up to io,000.
In numeration, indeed, uniformity was not attained till at least the 2nd century of the Christian era.
Numeration was at a low level, based on counting fingers on one hand only, so that the word for man (puggana) stood also for the number 5.
Arithmetic is supposed to deal with cardinal, not with ordinal numbers; but it will be found that actual numeration, beyond about three or four, is based on the ordinal aspect of number, and that a scientific treatment of the subject usually requires a return to this fundamental basis.
The systems adopted for numeration and for notation do not always agree with one another; nor do they always correspond with the idea which the numbers subjectively present.
