HEMLOCK. A narcotic plant, the leaves of terminated in 827 or 828, when king Egbert united which are cut into many minute segments, like the seven kingdoms into one, and assumed the title parsley. It is doubtful whether this be the true of king of England. hemlock of the ancients.

HEMP. This is an annual plant of great use in the arts and manufactures, furnishing thread, cloth, and cordage. Hemp bears a near analogy to flax, not only in form, but also in culture and use. The bark of the stalk, as in flax, is the chief object for which it is cultivated.

HERALD. In England, an officer whose business it is to proclaim war and peace, to marshal processions, and regulate armorial ensigns, &c. The heralds are six in number, and are distinguished by the names of Richmond, Lancaster, Chester, Windsor, Somerset, and York. They are all equal in degree, and have precedence only according to the seniority of their creation.

HEN. The number of eggs laid in a year by the domestic hen are above two hundred; provided she be well fed and supplied with water. Her nest, if left to herself, requires little previous preparation; and, warned by natural instinct, she gives notice of the proper time for hatching by a low clucking note, and by ceasing to lay. This clucking season is sometimes artificially protracted, and HERALDRY, HISTORY OF. Although the sometimes altogether set aside by those who derive science of heraldry, as far as regards the distinctgreater profits from the eggs than from the chick-ness of families by means of coat armor, is comens. Accordingly, the hen is stinted in her pro-paratively of modern date, yet the Romans were visions, and sometimes, to the hazard of her life, not without their marks of honor, which, being plunged in cold water. If the hen be left to her- hereditary, served as a proof of nobility, and a title self, she would seldom lay more than twenty eggs to a certain rank. This was known among them in the same nest, without attempting to hatch them; by the name of jus imaginum, which was the right but if her eggs be removed, she continues to lay in of having the statues or images of their ancestors; order to increase their number. that belonged to those only who were either of patrician rank or had risen to distinction in the state. He who had the privilege of using the statues or images of his ancestors was termed 'nobilis;' he who could only use his own was a 'novus homo,' or an upstart, like one who first procures a coat of arms; and he who had neither his own statues nor those of his ancestors was termed 'ignobilis.' These images or statues were made of wood, brass, marble, and sometimes in waxwork, and were painted, according to the life, with the several emblems of military honor which belonged to the individual. Thus the collar or chain on the statue of Torquatus, and the tuft of hair on that of Cincinnatus, were the trophies of which these brave warriors had despoiled their enemies.

HERALDRY. An ancient art which professed to teach the true use of arms; as how to blazon or describe them in proper terms, and how to marshal or dispose the different arms in an escutcheon or shield.

In the wild state the hen seldom lays more than fifteen eggs. When she begins to sit, her perseverance and patience are very remarkable; she continues for some days immovable; and when hunger forces her away from the nest, she quickly returns. While she sits, she carefully turns her eggs, and even removes them to different situations, till at length, in about three weeks, the young brood give signs of bursting their confinement. When they have broken with their bills a passage for themselves through the shell, the hen continues to sit till they are excluded. When all are produced, the strongest taking the lead, and the weakest following, she leads them forth to provide for themselves, and in various ways seek the food that is necessary to supply their wants. She recalls them when they wander, spreads her wings over them to defend them against the inclemency of the weather, and broods a second time. In these expressions of anxiety and attention, her own health is visibly impaired, and she may be distinguished from every other hen by her ruffled feathers, and her trailing wings. The hoarseness of her voice, and its different inflections, are all expressive of her situation, and of her maternal affection and solicitude. For their preservation she neglects herself, and exposes her life to danger in their defence. Whatever the enemy be that assails them, she warns them by her repeated cries, and boldly attacks the foe, whilst her brood are driven into some place of security. The number of chickens which a good hen can rear and clutch at a time is about ten or twelve; but this bears a small proportion to the number of eggs she lays; and, therefore, recourse has been had to artificial methods of hatching in aid of her own efforts.

HEPTARCHY. The seven kingdoms into which England was divided under the Saxons. It

These statues commonly stood in their courts in a cabinet of wood, whence probably originated the cabinets of arms, where the helmet, crest, gantlet, spurs, banner, &c. were kept; and as, upon particular occasions, these cabinets were set open, and the statues were exposed to public view before the porch or gate of their houses, so the English nobility and gentry have their coats of arms cut in stone, and painted in escutcheons over their gates. At their funerals those statues were borne before such as had the jus imaginum, whence in after times it became the practice, at the funerals of great men, to carry their ensigns of nobility, and the arms of those from whom they were descended, which, being all painted, are placed under the name of an achievement on the house of the person deceased. As a farther proof that heraldic disthactions take their rise from the jus imaginum of the Romans, it appears that the law of arms among the Europeans in the middle ages was regulated by the civil law,

The introduction of armorial bearings, in place of the images and statues of the Romans, is to be ascribed to the northern tribes who overran Europe

deficiency in a manuscript which destroys the stand for the whole; as in the hieroglyphics of connexion.

HIDEBOUND. In Farriery, a disease in horses and cattle when the skin cleaves to the sides. In Botany, a disease in trees when the bark cleaves to the wood.

HIERARCHY. Church government, or the subordination of rank among the different orders of clergy.

Horapollo, which represent a battle of two armies in array by two hands, one holding a shield and the other a bow: then putting the instrument of the thing, whether real or metaphorical, for the thing itself, as an eye and sceptre to represent a monarch, a ship and pilot the governor of the universe, and the like; and finally, by making one thing stand for or represent another, where their observations of nature, or traditional superstitions led them to discover or imagine any resemblances: thus the universe was designed by a serpent in a circle, whose variegated spots denoted the stars; and a man who had nobly surmounted his misfortunes was represented by the skin of the hyæna, because this was supposed to furnish an invulnerable defence in battle. The Chinese writing, he observes, was the next kind of improvement in the use of hieroglyphics. The Egyptians joined characteristic marks to images; the Chinese threw out the images and retained only the contracted marks, and from these marks proceeded letters.

HIEROGLYPHICS. Were in use among the Egyptians, and that as well in their writings as inscriptions; being the figures of various animals, the parts of human bodies, and mechanical instruments. It was the custom to have the walls, doors, and other parts of their temples, obelisks, and other public buildings, engraven with such figures. Hieroglyphics are properly emblems or signs of divine, sacred, or supernatural things; by which they are distinguished from common symbols, which are signs of sensible and natural things. The general concurrence of different people, in Hermes Trismegistus is commonly esteemed the this method of recording their thoughts, can never inventor of hieroglyphics: he first introduced them be supposed to be the effect of imitation, sinister into the heathen theology, whence they have been views, or chance; but must be considered as the transplanted into the Jewish and Christian. Sacred uniform voice of nature speaking to the rude conthings, says Hippocrates, should only be communi- ceptions of mankind; for not only the Chinese of cated to sacred persons. Hence the ancient Egyp- the East, the Mexicans of the West, and the Egyptians communicated to none but their kings and tians of the South, but the Scythians likewise of priests, and those who were to succeed to the the North, and the intermediate inhabitants of the priesthood and the crown, the secrets of nature, earth, viz. the Indians, Phœnicians, Ethiopians, and of their morality and history; and this they &c., used the same way of writing by picture and did by a kind of cabala, which, at the same time hieroglyphic. He farther shows, that the several that it instructed them, only amused the rest of the species of hieroglyphic writing took their rise from people. Hence the use of hieroglyphics, or mystic nature and necessity, and not from choice and artifigures, to veil their morality, politics, and religion, fice, by tracing at large the origin and progress of from profane eyes. This author and many others the art of speech. He proceeds to show how, in do not keep to the precise character of a hiero-process of time, the Egyptian hieroglyphics came glyphic, but apply it to profane as well as divine to be employed for the vehicle of mystery. They things.

used their hieroglyphics two ways; the one more Hieroglyphics are a kind of real characters, simple, by putting the part for the whole which which do not only denote, but in some measure was the curiologic hieroglyphic; and the other express the things. Thus, according to Clemens more artificial, by putting one thing of resembling Alexandrinus, a lion is the hieroglyphic of strength qualities for another, called the tropic hieroglyphic: and fortitude; a bullock, of agriculture; a horse, thus the moon was sometimes represented by a of liberty; a sphinx, of subtlety. Such is the half circle, and sometimes by a cynocephalus. opinion that has generally been embraced, both by They employed their proper hieroglyphics to reancient and modern writers, of the origin and use cord openly and plainly their laws, policies, public of hieroglyphics. It has been almost uniformly morals, and history, and all kinds of civil matters: maintained, that they were invented by the Egyp-this is evident from their obelisks which were full tian priests to conceal their wisdom from the of hieroglyphic characters, designed to record sinknowledge of the vulgar; but the late bishop gular events, memorable actions, and new invenWarburton has, with much ingenuity and learning, endeavored to show that this account is erroneous. He thinks the first kind of hieroglyphics were mere pictures, because the most natural way of communicating our conceptions, by marks or figures, was by tracing out the images of things; and this is verified in the case of the Mexicans, whose only However, the tropical hieroglyphics, which were method of writing their laws and history was by employed to divulge, gradually produced symbols this picture writing. But the hieroglyphics invent-which were designed to secrete or conceal: thus ed by the Egyptians were an improvement on this rude and inconvenient essay towards writing, for they contrived to make them both pictures and characters. In order to effect this improvement, they were obliged to proceed gradually, by first making the principal circumstance of the subject

tions; and also from the celebrated inscription on the temple of Minerva at Sais, where an infant, an old man, a hawk, a fish, and a river-horse, expressed this moral sentence: 'All you who come into the world and go out of it, know this, that the gods hate impudence.'

Egypt was sometimes expressed by the crocodile, sometimes by a burning censer with a heart upon it; where the simplicity of the first representation, and the abstruseness of the latter, show that the one was a tropical hieroglyphic for communication, and the other a tropical symbol invented for se

crecy. Enigmatic symbols were afterwards formed by the assemblage of different things, or of their properties that were less known; and, though they might have been intelligible at first, yet when the art of writing was invented, hieroglyphics were more generally disused; the people forgot the signification of them; and the priests, retaining and cultivating the knowledge of them, because they were the repositories of their learning and history, at length applied them to the purpose of preserving the secrets of their religion. Sir John Marsham thinks that symbols were the original of animal worship in Egypt; because in these was recorded the history of their greater deities, their kings, and lawgivers, represented by animals and other creatures. The symbol of each god was well known and familiar to his worshippers, by means of the popular paintings and engravings on their temples and other sacred monuments, so that the symbol presenting the idea of the god, and that idea exciting sentiments of religion, it was natural for them, in their addresses to any particular god, to turn to his representative mark or symbol; especially when we consider, that the Egyptian priests feigned a divine original for hieroglyphic characters, in order to increase the veneration of the people for them. These would of course bring on a relative devotion to these symbolic figures, which, when it came to be paid to the living animal, would soon terminate in an ultimate worship.

Another consequence of the sacredness of the hieroglyphic characters was, that it disposed the more superstitious to engrave them on gems, and wear them as amulets or charms. This magical abuse seems not to have been much earlier than the established worship of the god Serapis, which happened under the Ptolemies, and was brought to the general knowledge of the world by certain Christian heretics and natives of Egypt, who had mixed a number of pagan superstitions with their Christianity. These gems, called abraxas, are frequently to be met with in the cabinets of the curions, and are engraven with all kinds of hieroglyphic

characters.

the inhabitants of the mountainous parts of Scotland, to the north and northwest including those of the Hebrides. They are a branch of the ancient Celta, and are undoubtedly the descendants of the first inhabitants of Britain, as appears from the many monuments of their language, still retained in the most ancient names of places in all parts of the island. The Highlanders, or, as they are often termed by ancient authors, the Caledonians, were always a brave, warlike, and hardy race of people; and, in the remotest times, seem to have possessed a degree of refinement in sentiments and manners then unknown to the other nations that surrounded them. This appears not only from their own traditions and poems, but also from the testimony of many ancient authors. This civilisation was probably owing in a great measure to the order of the bards, or Druids, and some other institutions, peculiar to this people. The ancient Highlanders lived by hunting alone, till some time after the era of Fingal, who was one of their kings towards the close of the third century. For some ages after that period, they turned their chief attention to the pastoral life, which afforded a less precarious subsistence. Till of late, agriculture in most parts of the Highlands made little progress. The Highlanders always had a king, and enjoyed a government of their own, till Kenneth II. having subdued the Pietish kingdom, in 845, transferred thither the seat of royalty. This event proved very unfavorable to the Highlands, which from this period began to decline. The country, no longer awed by the presence of the sovereign, fell into anarchy. The chieftains began to extend their authority, to form factions, and to foment divisions and feuds between contending clans. The laws were either too feeble to bind them, or too remote to take notice of them.

Hence sprung all those evils which long disgraced the country, and disturbed the peace of its inhabitants. Robbery or plunder, provided it was committed on any one of an adverse clan, was countenanced: and their reprisals on one another were perpetual. Thus quarrels were handed down from one generation to another, and the whole clan HIEROGRAMMATEI, HIEROGRAMMATISTS, was bound in honor to espouse the cause of every that is, holy registers. Were an order of priests individual that belonged to it. The genius of the among the ancient Egyptians, who presided over people was thus greatly altered; and the Highlandreligion and learning. They had the care of the ers of a few ages back were almost as remarkable hieroglyphics, and were the expositors of religious for their irregular and disorderly way of life, as doctrines. They were regarded as a kind of pro- their predecessors had been for civilisation and phets; and it is said, that one of them predicted virtue." But one of the strongest features that to an Egyptian king, that an Israelite, (meaning marked the character of the Highlanders, in every Moses) eminent for his qualifications and achieve- age, was their hospitality and benevolence to stranments, would depress the Egyptian monarchy. gers. At night the traveller was always sure to The hierogrammatei were always near the king, find a hearty welcome in whatever house he should to assist him with their information and counsels. go to; and the host thought himself happier in The better to fit them for this, they made use of giving the entertainment than the guest in receiving the knowledge they had acquired in the motions it. Even with regard to their enemies, the laws of the celestial luminaries, as well as the writings of their predecessors, wherein their function and duties were delivered. They were exempted from all civil employments, were reputed the first persons in diguity next the king, and bore a kind of sceptre in form of a ploughshare. After Egypt became a Roman province they sunk into neglect.

HIGHLANDERS. A general appellation for

of hospitality were observed with the most sacred regard. They who fought against each other in the day, could join in the night feast, and even sleep together, in the same house. From the same principle, they were, in most cases, so faithful to their trust, that they rarely betrayed any confidence reposed in them. A promise they thought as binding as an oath, and held it equally inviolable and sacred.

uals they thought the divinity had communicated a portion of his prescience.

The language of the Highlanders is still the Gaelic; which, with many of their customs and manners, has been secured to them by their mountains and fastnesses, amidst the many revolutions which the rest of the island has undergone in so long a course of ages. That it has been formerly a good deal cultivated, appears from the style of its poems and tales, and from several ancient manuscripts that have come down to the present times. To strangers the Gaelic has a forbidding aspect on account of the number of its quiescent consonants, (which are retained to mark the derivation of words and their variations in case and tense) but its sound is abundantly musical and harmonious, and its genius strong and masculine. The Highlanders have begun of late years to apply to learning agriculture, and especially to commerce, for which their country, every where indented with arms of the sea, is peculiarly favorable. Cattle are the chief staple of the country; but it produces more grain than would supply its inhabitants, if so much of it were not consumed in whiskey. That article, however, is thought by physicians to be necessary for the health of the natives, when taken in moderation, on account of the coldness of the climate and the lowness of their diet. The Highlanders are beginning to avail themselves of their mines, woods, wool, and fisheries; and by a vigorous application, with due encouragement from government, may become a prosperous and useful people. They are active, persevering, industrious, and economical. They are remarkably bold and adventurous, which qualifies them for being excellent seamen and soldiers. They are generally of a middle size, rather above it than otherwise; their eyes are lively, their features distinctly marked, and their persons strong and well made. Their countenances are open and ingenuous, and their tempers frank and communicative.

The Caledonians in all ages have been much | addicted to poetry and music. The poems of Ossian, so universally repeated, and so highly esteemed by every Highlander, are a strong proof of the early proficiency of this people in the poetical art. The genius and character of the Gaelic poetry is well known. It is tender, simple, beautiful, and sublime. Among the ancient Highlanders, the harp was the chief instrument of music. It suited the mildness of their manners, and was well adapted to the peace and quiet which they enjoyed under their own kings. In a later period, however, when the constant quarrels of their chiefs, and the endless feuds of contending clans, turned all their thoughts to war, it was forced to give place to the bag-pipe, an instrument altogether of the martial kind, and therefore well suited to the state of the country at that time. Their dress consisted of a light woollen jacket, or tartan, woven in squares of various colors, in which red, green, blue, and black are most prevalent. The kilt is a short petticoat of the same stuff, reaching to the knees; and the hose, or short stockings, are woven in diamonds of red and white, tied under the knee with garters, often beautifully ornamented: the Highlanders have generally a pouch made of the skin of a badger, fox, or other animal, hanging before, in which they keep their tobacco and money; and this part of their dress is generally adorned with silver buttons and tassels; their plaid is also of tartan, consisting of twelve or thirteen yards of cloth, wrapped round them in a graceful manner, fastened round the middle by a belt, falling to the knees behind, and confined by a broach or silver pin to the top of the left shoulder: this is often their only cover, both within doors and when obliged to repose in the field. The truis or trews, which are a sort of tartan pantaloons, are only worn by the gentry, instead of the kilt. Indeed, Sir John Sinclair contends, that the trews were the most ancient dress of the Highlanders, and that the kilt is of comparatively modern introduction. The Highlanders generally affected to have their HIPPOPOTAMUS. In Natural History, a genus dress of the color of the heath on which they re- of Mammalia, of the order Bellum. Generic charposed, probably from a principle of security in acter: four front teeth in each jaw; the upper ones time of war, or that they might not be discovered distant, in pairs; the lower ones prominent; the two while they lay in the heaths, waiting for their game. intermediate ones longest ; tusks solitary; those of Their ancient arms were the broad sword and tar- the lower jaw very large, long, curved, and obget, Lochabar axes, and a dirk, to which, before liquely truncated; feet hoofed at the margin. This the act for disarming the Highlanders, in 1748, the animal appears very naturally to have attracted pistol stuck into the girdle had been added. Al- the early attention of mankind, and is supposed, ways armed with a dirk and pistol, they were by most critics acquainted with natural history, to ready to resist an assault, or revenge a provocation be the behemoth so sublimely described in the as soon as it was given. This circumstance con- book of Job. The Greek and Roman writers have tributed to render them polite and guarded in their also alluded to it; but their observations upon it behavior to one another. When embodied by are by no means such as could have resulted from their chieftain, they were armed with a broad accurate and philosophical observation; and both sword, a dagger, a target, a musket, and two pistols. Aristotle and Pliny have fallen, on this subject, In close engagement, and in broken ranks, they into the most absurd deviations from truth. Indeed were irresistible. The only foe they dreaded was it is only recently, that clear and just representacavalry. As soon as the battle was over, most of tions of this animal have been published, with inthe troops dispersed, and returned home to dispose teresting circumstances relating to its manners and of their plunder, and to provide for their families. habits, collected by persons who had inclination Their religion was deeply tinctured with supersti- and opportunities of particularly examining it. Dr. tion. They believed in ghosts and apparitions; by Sparman, and Colonel Gordon, and Mr. Mason, appearances in the heavens they predicted future are particularly entitled to honorable mention on events; they practised charms and incantations for this account. The largest female which the Colthe cure of various diseases; and to some individ-onel ever had an opportunity of observing, was