Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 09.djvu/869

* HERALDRY. rag HERB. tree from which tlie Peruvian bark or cinchona i.s taken. That of Guatemala shows the birtl yuezal, the "pito real,' or royal bird, of the old Spanish discoverers. The peaks of the Andes occur in several of the South American national coats of arms. That of the Kcpulilic of Jirazil, adopted in 18S9, consists of a live-pointed star with a round shield placed upon it. On this shield are figured the stars of the Southern Cross, and it is surrounded by twenty silver stars, rep- resenting the States of the Republic. Below are a sword and branches of laurel and of the to- liacco-plant. with an inscription. See accom- panying Plates, National Co.ts of Arms. The terms and usages of heraldry vary some- what in the different countries. In this article the rules of English heraldry have been followed. Information on the usages in other countries can be obtained from the books cited. For informa- tion on the details of herahlrv, consult: the standai'd works of Guillim, D'nipUiy of Heraldry (London, 1610; 0th ed. 1724) ; Edmondson, Com- plete Body of Hertildry (London, 1780) ; and Xisbet, System of Heraldry (London, 1722-43 ; 3d ed., London, 1816) ; and for a more discrimi- nating vieAV of the subject. Gourdon de Genouil- lac, L'Art hcraldh/tic (Paris. 1889); Hulme. History, Principles, and Practice of Heraldry (London and New York, 1892) ; Woodward and Burnet. .1 Treatise on Heraldry, British and For- eign (Edinburgh, 1891) ; Eve, Decorative Herald- ry (London and New York, 1897). HERALDS' COLLEGE, or College of Arms. A' collegiate bod}-, founded by Edward IV. in 1464, and chartered by Richard III. in 1483. It consists of the heraldic officers of England. After various charters had confirmed its privi- leges, it was reincorporated by Philip and Mary, who bestowed on it Derby House, on the site of which in Doctors' Commons the present college was built by Sir Christopher Wren. The presidency of the college is vested in the Earl-Marshal, an office now hereditary in the family of Howard, Duke of Norfolk; he nomi- nates the three kings-.at-arms. six heralds, and four pursuivants, who are the members of the collegiate chapter. Persons having an hereditary claim to arms, which has been disused for one or more generations, are empowered by the Her- alds' College to resume them on proof and regis- tration of pedigree. A person who has no hereditary claim, and wishes a grant of arras, must mcmoj-ialize the Earl-Marshal, and show that he is in condition to 'sustain the rank of gentry.' An important department of the college is the recording of pedigrees. Any pedigree showing the existing state or descent of a family may. if accompanied with sufficient evidence, be entered on the books of the college. The members have salaries, but derive their principal income from fees charged for assistance in tracing pedi- grees and titles, and for the granting and regis- tration of arms. Since a long time the cnllege has Inst all authority to eiiforce its regulations. In Scotland the corresponding functions belong to the Lyon Court (q.v. ). and in Ireland to the Office-of-.rms. See Heraloky. HERAT, her-iit'. The capital of the province of the same name in Afghanistan (q.v.). It is situated in the western part of the country, on the River Heri-Rud. about .'iO miles south of the Russian frontier, and the same distance east of the Persian border (Map: .Vfglmnistaii. 11 4). The town is surrounded by strong fortilications, having towers and gales, and with a strong cita- di 1 at the northern end. The streets are narrow and crooked and the buildings are unsightly. There is an ancient ruined mosque. The sur- roiuiding valley is of remarkable natural beauty and fertility. Fine (ields of grain ;ind attractive garilens adorn the landscape. The King's Garden wa.s formerly famous. Herat exp<irts carpets, blades, and rose-water. Its i)osition on the route from Persia to India explains its commercial im- portance, while its proximity to the Russian bor- der lends to it great strategic and political signi- ficance. The population, formerly much greater, is estimated at 4:5,000. and is very hcti'rogcneous. Herat is su])i)osed to have lu'cn founded l)y Alex- ander the (ireat. In the seventh century it came under the dominion of the .rahs. It was con- quered by Timur in 1381, under whose reign it giew to be a centre of Persian learning and art. In 1510 it passed into the hands of Persia. The .Ughans took it in 1749. During the civil wars in Afghanistan, Herat became independent, and remained so fron> 1S23 to 1863, when it once more became a part of Afghanistan. HERAXJLT, a'ro'. A maritime department in the south of France (q.v.), in Languedoc. bounded on the southeast by the Gulf of Lyons (Jlap: France. K 8). Area. 2393 square miles. Population, in 1896. 469,684: in 1901. 489.421. It is occupied in the north and northwest by the Lower Cevcnnes. The jirincipal rivers are the Heiault (from which the de])artment derives its name), the Orb, and the Lez. The coast-line is about 66 miles in length : and along the shore, from Agde to the Vidoule. are luunerous etangs or marsliy lakes, united by the Canal-des-etangs, and communicating with the sea. In the neigh- l)orlinod of the etangs the climate is un- healthful, but elsewhere throughout the depart- ment it is usually fine. Ilerault ranks among the foremost wine-growing departments of France. Woolen, silk, and cotton fabrics, leather, brandy, liquors, etc.. are manufactured. Coal and copper mines as well as quarries of marl)les. building- stone, granite, etc., are worked, Herault supplies a great part of the salt used in France. Capital, Montpellier. HiRATJLT DE SiSCHELLES, dc sa'shel', !Marie -Tean (1760-94). A French revolutionist, born in Paris, . author and advocate, imbued with the teachings of Diderot, he was rather a philosopher than a revolutionist, and was at llrst but moderately attraclcil by the radical ele- ment in the Legislative Assembly, to which he was elected in 1791. But he soon took his stand with the extreme left, and supported Danton in the Revolution of .ugnst and Septemlier (1792). He was Deputy from the De]inrtment of Seine-et- Oise to the Convention of the same year, and voted for the King's ilealh. .s a member of the Committee of Public Safety, he aroused the en- mity of Robespierre, who. iinder the pretext that he had had traitorous dealings with the .rmy of the Rhine, insisted upon his arrest and execution. The best of his writings were printed under the title Vdiiane a Monthard (last ed. 1890). HERB (OF., Fr. hcrhe. from Lat. herhn : prob- ably connected with Ol.at. forhea, food. Ok. ^op- /St). phorbe, pasture, tj>4pPetv, pherbein. to feed). .Any plant that contains no woody tissue, or, at