Summary

There are over 500 different species of eucalypt and a similar imposing number of aboriginal dialects. Diversity in nature and social communications is not unique to Australia. It is only in the last century that the major European languages have been formally defined; the ``King's English'' and ``High German'' are recent concepts.

On the contrary, mathematics has developed in a remarkably universal manner.

Similar numerical, trigonometrical and algebraic concepts arose independently in quite diverse cultures.

This universality might be a consequence of the problems which motivated some areas of mathematics, but it also indicates a uniqueness of intellectual process.