On the Origin of the Indian Brahma Alphabet c8.36

c8.36

No 5. The identity of *ha* (Col. III) with *He* has not been recognised hitherto. But it seems to me derived from a round *He*, like the Teima form in Col. I, a, with the transposition of the central vertical to the lower right end of the curve, which is particularly clear in the letter, given in Col. III, b, a not uncommon form in the Aśoka Edicts. A similar transposition of an inconvenient pendant, due to the consideration for the medial *i*, *e* and *o*, will be noticed below under No 17. The *He* of the Papyri, though not rarely round at the top, shows nearly always a continuation of the central bar on the outside of the topline, and hence is less suitable for comparison.