SCHLFSWIG (Slesscig), sometimes called South Jutland, is a duchy belonging to Denmark, situated between 54' 20' and 55° 20' N. let, 8' 40 and 10' 5' E. long. It is bounded N. by Jutland, E. by the Little Belt, S. by Holstein, from which it is divided by the river Eider and the Kid Canal, and W. by the German Ocean. The population In 1550 numbered 363,000. The area is 3534 square miles. It is in general a level country. A range of low hills enters it from Holstein, and, traversing it from south to north, passes into Jutland. The length, from north to south, is about 70 miles, and the breadth, from east to west, varies from 30 to 56 miles, not including the islands on the east and west coasts. On the west coast there are low and rich marsh lands, which are protected by dykes, 20 feet high, against the spring tides, which often rise to the height of 13 feet As the sea in many places deposits alluvium, new dykes are erected from time to time, to secure these additions. The principal rivers are the Eider, the Widau, and the Aue. The east coast is not so low as the wart coast, but is equally fertile. The climate is on the whole tem perate and healthy, but damper and less salubrious on the west than on the east court. The country produces corn, pulse, flax, hemp, rape-seed, hay, clover, garden vegetables, and potatoes. The breeds of horned cattle and horses are excellent. The country exports annually corn, great numbers of oxen and horses, and large quantities of butter and cheese. Fish too are an important article of exporta tion. Wood is scarce, both for building and fuel. There are lime atone, chalk, slate, and turf, but no metallic minerals. The chief occupations of the inhabitants are agriculture, the breeding of cattle, and the fisheries. There are no manufactories except in the large towns, and these are of little importance. The most considerable are those of lace and stockings, in Tondern, Huaum, Friederichstadt, and some other places. The inhabitants, who profess the Lutheran religion, are partl7 of German, partly of Danish, and partly of Frisian descent According to the 'Royal Almanac' of 1854, 29,000 of the inhabitants speak Frisian ; 122,000 Danish; 125,000 Low German ; 36,000 a dialect half Danish half German ; and 51,000, who though they ordinarily speak Danish, have adopted German as the language of the schools and churches.
The islands on the east coast are Antie, AUER', Foul; and Femern. Arrde lies of the eastern coast, due south of the island of Funen, and at the south entrance to the Little Belt. It has an area of 32 square miles, and a population of about 7000. Its level surface is broken only by a lake, called Wilt-see. The soil is very fertile; but there are no trees on the island. on the eastern side of the island is the capital ; it has a convenient harbour, formed by the opposite shore of the island of Deyerbe, with which Aniie is united by a bridge. The population of Arroeskioping is only about 1500. Marstall, a market-village, and fishing station, on the west coast, has also about 1500 inhabitants. Femern is separated from the north-east point of Holstein by a narrow channel, the Femersund ; it is about 16 milca long and 12 miles broad, the area 63 square miles, and the population 9000. This island produces abundance of wheat, barley, and peas. The inhabitants manufacture large quantities of barley-groats and peeled barley for exportation ; they likewise export annually 20,000 pairs of worsted stockings to Mecklenburg. The fisheries are very productive. There is a lighthouse, 100 feet high, on the island. The chief town is Burg, or Borg, which has 1700 inhabitants. On the west coast are Bom5e or Min, 7 miles long by 3 miles wide : Sy/t, 20 miles long, 15 miles broad, has 4000 inhabitants ; most of the men are sailors and fishermen ; the business of agricul ture is chiefly performed by the women, who also manufacture worsted stockings. Nordstrand was a large island, which was visited by a dreadful inundation, October 11, 1634, when 6408 persons and 50,000 head of cattle perished, and the island was broken into fragments, of which only two, Nordatrand and Pellworm, have been secured by dykes. These islands are the resort of seals and waterfowl. Many thousands of there water-fowl are annually taken, boiled in vinegar, and packed In barrels for exportation. Between these larger islands there are many small ones, without dykes, the construction of which would be too expensive. They are inhabited by desceudanta of the Frieslanders. who, during the inundations, have their abode on tho Tumuli called Warfen, which were thrown up in remote ages, and on which the churches are built.