It is a tale that starts with a 42,000-year-old tally stick found in South Africa and moves through finger-counting systems to the abacus and the slide-rule.

这个故事从在南非发现的一根有 42,000 年历史的计数棒开始，通过手指计数系统发展到算盘和计算尺。

So he kept his one useful eye carefully on the wool, and counted it by the notches on his tally stick—another bale—another notch—thirty-five, thirty-six, thirty-seven; he hoped the number would come right at the finish.

因此，他用一只有用的眼睛仔细地盯着羊毛，并根据他的理货棒上的刻痕数了数——又一包——又一刻痕——三十五、三十六、三十七；他希望这个数字能在结束时出现。