(Vol. ii., pp. 27. 61.)
I must apologise for adding anything to the already abundant articles which
have from time to time appeared in "NOTES AND QUERIES" on this interesting
subject; I shall therefore confine myself to a few brief remarks on the
_form_ of each character, and, if possible, to show from what alphabets
they are derived:--
1. This most natural form of the first numeral is the first character in
the Indian, Arabic, Syriac, and Roman systems.
2. This appears to be formed from the Hebrew [Hebrew: b], which, in the
Syriac, assumes nearly the form of our 2; the Indian character is
identical, but arranged vertically instead of horizontally.
3. This is clearly derived from the Indian and Arabic forms, the position
being altered, and the vertical stroke omitted.
4. This character is found as the fourth letter in the Phoenician and
ancient Hebrew alphabets: the Indian is not very dissimilar.
5. and 6. These bear a great resemblance to the Syriac Heth and Vau (a
hook). When erected, the Estrangelo-Syriac Vau is precisely the form of our
6.
7. This figure is derived from the Hebrew [Hebrew: z], zayin, which in the
Estrangelo-Syriac is merely a 7 reversed.
8. This figure is merely a rounded form of the Samaritan Kheth (a
travelling scrip, with a string tied round thus, [Character]). The
Estrangelo-Syriac [Character] also much resembles it.