Note 3 — HASSAN OR THE CHILD OF THE PYRAMID

For the information of the English reader it is necessary to mention that the word Herâm, with a light aspirate of the initial letter, is the conventional term in Egypt applied to the Pyramid (its plural is Ehrâm), whereas Ĥharâm, with a slight guttural pronunciation of the initial letter, signifies “shame” or “sin.” Although these two sounds are scarcely distinguishable from each other in the mouth of a European, they are perfectly distinct in that of an Arab; and thus the expression “Ebn-Harâm,” according as the initial is pronounced, means “Child of the Pyramid,” or “Child of Shame.”