Hereros, or Ovaherero. Bantu Negroes inhabiting the plains of Damaraland, or German South-West Africa. The Damaras or Hau-Khoin are a cross between Hereros and the Hottentot aborigines. A pastoral nation who migrated thither about two centuries ago from the inland districts, and dispossessed the aboriginal Hottentots, now represented by the Namas of Namaqualand, with whom they are perennially at war. Recently they rose against the German authorities, and have given them much trouble. A fine, warlike race.
Highlanders. The Gaelic-speaking inhabitants of Northern Scotland, a branch of the Goidelic or Q Kelts, also known as Gaels. They are descended from the ancient [Scots] (q.v.), who originally migrated from Ireland in the fifth century. One of the finest races of the British Islands, who give them their finest soldiers.
Himyarites. A branch of the Semitic family (“Red Men,” whence the Red Sea), formerly occupying Arabia Felix and Abyssinia; they form the main stock of the Abyssinian race. They included the kingdoms of the Minæans and Sabæans, the latter being identified by some with the Biblical Sheba.
Hindus. A stock of the Aryan family, comprising a large proportion of the natives of India, described under the headings of Kashmiris, Punjabis, Rajputs, Marathas, Bengalis, Sindis, Gujeratis, Assamis, etc. The original Hindus entered India—hence called Hindustan—from the north-west at some prehistoric time, and soon became the predominant race in the peninsula.
Hittites. A forgotten but once mighty people of Semitic race, who contested the entry of the Israelites into Canaan, and waged war with Egypt and Assyria for many centuries. Little is known about them, but they seem to have reared a mighty empire between Lebanon and the Euphrates, which endured for more than a thousand years, and was destroyed by the Assyrian Sargon II. in 717 B.C.
Hondurans. White natives of Honduras, of Spanish descent; few in numbers, the population being mostly of mixed blood.
Hor-Soks. A primitive Mongol-Turki race of the Tibetan plateau.
Hottentots, or Khoi-Khoin. The aboriginal Negro inhabitants of South Africa, which they shared with the [Bushmen] (q.v.). Possibly the Bushmen are degraded Hottentots, or the Hottentots are a cross between the Bantus from the north and the Bushmen, who would on this view be the true aborigines. The only surviving race of pure Hottentots are the Namas of Namaqualand: the Damaras, Griquas, Gonaquas, and Koranas, are other races in which Hottentot blood is mixed with that of Bantu Negroes or of Europeans (mostly Boers). The Hottentots are a distinct branch of the Negro family, marked by extremely long heads and high cheek-bones, a brownish-yellow complexion, with other physical peculiarities exemplified in the so-called “Hottentot Venus,” and also found in the Bushmen. Their language is peculiar for its unique “clicks,” which no European can pronounce, and which seem to stand between articulate and inarticulate speech.
Hovas. The dominant Malagasy race of Madagascar, of Malay descent, mixed with Bantu Negro blood from Africa. They stand nearest to pure Malays of all Malagasy peoples. The existing French Protectorate was only established after much fighting with the warlike Hovas, who had conquered all the other native tribes.
Huastec. See [MAYA-QUICHÉ].