There is a way (that I learned from a site surveyor in Tunisia, cannot say if used elsewhere in North Africa or in any other country) that is (IMHO) the most practical one.
You start with one as a vertical trait (top to bottom) I.
For two you go to the right (L).
For three you go up (U).
For four you go left (and you get a square).
For five you go diagonal from top left to bottom right (the final result is a crossed square).
It has the advantage that you never need to lift the pen from paper until you get to five and with a little of practice you don't even need to look at the sheet until you actually need to calculate the sum of more than one tally.
Interesting. I've never personally come across that, but it does seem rather convenient. Wikipedia says it's used in France, Portugal, Spain, and their former colonies.
You start with one as a vertical trait (top to bottom) I.
For two you go to the right (L).
For three you go up (U).
For four you go left (and you get a square).
For five you go diagonal from top left to bottom right (the final result is a crossed square).
It has the advantage that you never need to lift the pen from paper until you get to five and with a little of practice you don't even need to look at the sheet until you actually need to calculate the sum of more than one tally.