Note 123 — XIV. RHYMES FOR COUNTING OUT.
Reading edition
This class of formulas (Nos. 1 to 8) appear to be mere variations of the same type, a fact which does not prevent individual forms from exhibiting a wonderful permanence. We consider as identical a class of German formulas, very wide-spread and variable, thus:
(a.) Unichi, dunichi, tipel-te! Tibel, tabel, domine. (b.) Eckati peckati zuchati me, Avi schavi domine. (c.) Aeniga mäniga tumpel-ti, Tifel, tafel numine. (d.) Anigl panigl subtrahi! Tivi tavi, domini. (e.) Endeli bändeli deffendé, Gloria tibi domine.
A rhyme quoted by Mr. Ellis from the Millhill Magazine (a school paper), and credited to America, is similar:
(f.) Eeney, meeny, tipty te, Teena, Dinah, Domine.
The following formulas from Transylvania are of a simpler type; the first is said to imitate the Gipsy, the second the Magyar, speech:
(g.) Unemi, dunemi, tronemi, ronemi, donemi, ronza, konza, jewla, dewla, tschok! (h.) Aketum, täketum, tinum, tanum, ärsak, märsak, etc.
We take the latter type to be a nearer approach to the original form. All sorts of intermediate stages can be observed from between these lists and the more complicated examples; but we find no signs of numbers above ten, as in the "Anglo-Cymric score." The Russian and Finnish tongues present similar rhymed lists, while many Italian rhymes are of like origin, though disguised and extended.