SHETLAND ( or ZETLAND ) ISLANDS (anciently Maitland, the Latin Ultima Thule). A group of about 1110 Scottish islands, 23 of which are inhabited, lying between the Atlantic and the North Sea. 50 miles northeast of the Orkneys, and 210 miles west of Norway (Map: Scotland, F 1). The largest is Mainland, which embraces about half the entire area and population; others are Unst. Yell, Fetlar, Bressay, Whalsay. Papa Stour, Barra, and Foula. The total area of the group is about 550 square miles. Population, in 1S91, 28,711; in 1901, 28,195. Lerwick (q.v.), on Mainland,. is the chief town. The surface is rug ged and wild; the coasts are abrupt and indented with deep bays or woes. The rocks are mainly gneiss. elay-slate, sandstone, and granite. The highest hill is Ronas, 1500 feet. The climate is moist and variable and snow and frost are of short duration. Fishing for cod. ling, and herring is the chief industry ; seals and bottle-nosed whales are often caught. Much attention is given to the rearing of cattle, sheep. and ponies, the little Shetland ponies being famous. Almost
all the small tenants practice spade cultivation. Oats and barley are the only grain crops; pota toes and turnips are grown. The manufactures are chiefly hosiery and shawls, and the exports, besides these, are cattle, fish, and eggs; the chief imports are oatmeal, flora•, tea, tobacco, spirits, sugar, cottons, woolens, timber (chiefly from Norway), tar, salt, etc. • Though little is known of the original inhab itants of Shetland, the physiognomy. diameter, and language point to a Norse or Scandinavian origin. In trust cairns have been found over long and short stone coffins, with skeletons. clay urns, weapons. and stone vessels. Tumuli are frequent and contain remains of rude buildings and stone implements. Circular strongholds of unhew•n stone, called burghs or 'broughs.' are very numerous, generally on a cliff or headland, but also on artificial islands in fresh-water lochs. Mouse Isle has the most perfect 'brough' known. Consult Hibbert, The Shetland Islands (new ed., Edinburgh, I892).