'ZEAL AND, a province of the kingdom of the Netherlands, situated between 51° 14' and 51° 45' N. lat., 3° 13' and 4° 7' E. long., is formed of the ancient province of that name, of Dutch Flanders, and of a group of islands formed by the several arms of the Schelde. It is bounded N. by two branches of the West Schelde ; E. by North Brabant and Antwerp ; S. by Flanders; and W. by the North Sea. Its area is 670 square miles. The population at the end of 1853 was 165,075. The surface is only a few feet above the sea, and the monotonous plain is only broken here and there by artificial mounds.
The province is protected from the sea by numerous dykes, which run along the coasts and the sides of the rivers. The soil is a rich black mould, and very fertile. The climate is damp, and unfavourable to foreigners, though the natives enjoy good health. The inhabitants are steady, industrious, and wealthy people, devoted chiefly to agricul ture, cattle-breeding, and the sea fisheries. Zealand wheat, especially that of the island of Schouwen, is very highly esteemed. The pro vince produces likewise fine rye and malting barley. Kidney-beans and peas, rape-seed and flax, are important articles of exportation, and the island of Schouwen alone produces 20,000 cwt. of fine madder annually. The sheep are small, and the wool of indifferent quality. The horses are large, heavy, and strong. Poultry, rabbits, ducks, wild fowl, and fish abound. Besides grain and pulse, the people cultivate potatoes, melons, fruit, and teazels. The inhabitants have a consider able export trade, and some manufactures of linen, woollen, and fine yarn ; distilleries, breweries, salt-works, and dockyards for ship-build ing. The following are the islands : 1. Walelseren, in which are the following towns :—Middelburg, the capital of the province, a fortified town, connected with the West Schelde by a navigable canal bait a league in length. It is a seaport,
and has 15,000 inhabitants. FLMMINO. Veere, or Terreere, a fortified town at the month of the East Schelde. 2, and 3. BEvErasrn, North and South. 4. IVolfendyk, with the village of Oosterland, separated by the Zuyd Vliet from North Beveland. 5. SMIOEMEN, separated by the East Schelde from North Beveland. In this island are the towns of — Zieriekzee, with 7000 inhabitants, who derive their subsistence from the fishery, salt-works, trade in madder, &c. Brouwershafen, mostly inhabited by seamen and fishermen. 6. Daireland, separated from Schouwki by the Dyl. 7. Tholen. This island produces the finest flax, and it manufactures the finest thread, of which ono pound costa 300 florins (nearly 251. sterling). The town of Tholcn has 2000 inhabitants, and is partly fortified.
In Dutch Flanders are the following towns :—Sus de (land, a well fortified town, with 1200 inhabitants, situated on a canal which leads from about to the West Schelde. Sluys, or r Ecluse, a well-fortified place, situated on a bay of the North Sea, at the mouth of the Schelde, and on a canal to Bruges. The population is 1200. Aardcnburg, on a canal which joins the Zwin, has 1400 inhabitants. Cadsand, on the island of Cadsand (which is 5 leagues long and 4 broad ; it has rich pastures, and is famous for its cheese), is a mere village. Axel, on an island in the Schelde, on a canal from the West Schelde, has 2300 inhabitants. Hag, a fortified town, with 2000 inhabitants, with a harbour communicating with the Hello Gat, a creek of the West Schelde.