Inscription: interesting series of incised stones found in N. Syria, probably by the ancient Chetas or Hittites. They occupy an intermediate position between picture writing, allied to Egyptian hieroglyphs, and early Semitic characters. They have not been deciphered. See Burton: “Unexplored Syria,” Burckhardt’s “Travels.” ☞
Hamalaiset, see [Tavastrian].
Hamarua, Adamowa.
Two large districts in W. Africa, as far S. as 9° N.L. Dr. Barth, with his Batta Vocabulary, gives a list of thirty-two languages for these parts, all represented as mutually unintelligible forms of speech, and all names ending in “ntshi,” “nji,” or “nchi.”
Hamburg.
A sub-dialect of Low-German. Richey: “Idioticon,” Hamburgh, 1755.
Hamiar.
A primitive dialect of Arabic.
Hamitic.
A name for the primitive languages of N.E. Africa and S.W. Asia, including the Egyptian, Ethiopic, S. Arabian, Akkadian, or early Babylonian, &c. The root of this word is supposed by some to survive in Amharic and Amazig, names for Abyssinian and Berber dialects; “Ham” or “Cham,” quasi “dark.” See Hebræo-African.