> The device uses the decimal system (lower part) and the quinary system (upper part). The value shown here is 5 555 555 as and 7 ounces. > The slot marked wit

> The device uses the decimal system (lower part) and the quinary system (upper part). The value shown here is 5 555 555 as and 7 ounces. > The slot marked with a circle ○ is used for the ounces. Since 1 as (pound) has 12 ounces, this slot contains five single beads at the bottom and a six beads at the top. Thus 5+6=11 ounces can be represented. For those puzzled by the language, it's simple once you get past it: * Except the two rightmost columns, all columns are decimal scale, in increasing powers of 10 from right to left (I = 10^0, X = 10^1, C = 10^2, etc.). For each power of 10, each of the 4 beads in each bottom slot represents 1, each of the single beads in each top slot represents 5. Thus each column represents from 0 to ([4 bottom beads x 1] + [1 top bead x 5] =) 9. Multiply that by the slot's power of 10. * The column labled O, second from right, represents ounces and is duodecimal because there are 12 ounces in a pound. Each of the 5 beads in the bottom slot represents 1; the lone bead in the top slot represents 6. Thus the column can represent 0 to (6+5=) 11 ounces. * They don't know how the right-most slot was used; maybe it was for fractions of an ounce.