THE SHEPHERD'S TALE [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

Stn,—Some twenty years ago in Cumberland I learnt the numerals with which the shepherds count their sheep, and to-day I have been reminded of this on reading a book called Lakeland and Iceland, published in 1895, by the Rev. '1'. Ellwood, in which book the numerals are given as follows :

No. I. Borrowdale, Keswick, Welsh. Cumberland.

1. T'n . . . . Yan 2. Daum; dwy,f Tyan 3. Trim ; tair,f Tethera 4. Pedwar, pedair Methera 5. Pump . . Pimp

6. Chwech . . Sethera

7. .. Lethera 8. Hovers

9. Nan . Dovera

10. Deg . . . . Dick 11. Unar ddeg . . Yan-a-dick 12. Deuddeg Tyan-a-dick 13. Tri (or lair) ar Tether-a-dick ddeg 14.Pedwar (or Mather-a.dick Maed-eredik Medder-a-clik pedair) ar ddeg 15. Pyartheg . . Bumfit Bunn Mimph 16. Unar bymtheg Yan-a-bumfit Yaan-elsion Yan-a-Mimph

17. Date (or dwy) Tyan-a-bumfit Tyaan-elmon Taen-a-Mimpit ar bymtheg

18. Deunaw . . Tether-a-btunfit Taed-erehoon Tedder- a-Mi mph 10. l'edwar (or Mather-a-bumfit Maed-ereboon Medder-a-Mimph • pedair) ar bymtheg 20. Ugain(Gaelict Giggot fichead) The hyphens may be left out ; they probably denote only the manner of taking down by each listener.

-j It is known that there was Goidelic influence in Cumberland.

Mr. Ellwood does not make any suggestion where these numerals come from, but to me it is obvious that they are corrupted Celtic numerals. If they are compared with the Welsh numerals, which I have written at the side in italics, it will be seen that 5, 10 and 15 are almost identical with the Welsh, and even 90, though not identical with the Welsh, is very like the Gaelic. As the shepherds count on their fingers and the Celts counted in fives, it is not surprising that the multiples of 5 show this resemblance to the ancient Celtic, but even if the intermediate numbers are examined, although they have been corrupted for purposes of rime, yet some similarity will still be seen between them and the Welsh.

' No doubt these Celtic numerals have struck other people besides myself, but what I am chiefly interested in at the present moment is in finding out whether they are still used in England, and, if so, in what counties. I did hear at one time that they were used in Lincolnshire.-1 am, Sir, &c.;

No. 2. No. 3.

Kirkby Coniston, Stephen, High Farness. Westmorland. North Lanes.

Yan Yen Tyaan Taco Teed-ere* Tedderte Maed-dere Medderte Mimp Pimp Hai-tea Sethera Sai-tes,vaith Lethera Hao-vos,ngth Hovers Dao-vcs Dovera Dik Dik Yaan-edik Nan -a .dik Tyaan-edik Taett-a-dik Taed•eredilc Tedder-a-clik Buomfit Cigget

(probably incor- rectly reported) 166, Piccadilly, London, W :1 . HENRY DOBINSON.