THE DANISH ISLANDS. 



65 



— consist of recent formations ; but not so Bornholm, situated in mid Baltic, south- 

 east from tlie southern extremity of Scania. 



Geologically this island belongs to Sweden, for it consists exclusively of old 

 rocks — sandstones and schists on a granite foundation. The strait separating it 

 from Scania is only 22 miles broad, with a depth nowhere exceeding 27 fathoms. 

 Nevertheless Bornholm justly forms part of Denmark, which formerly included 



Fig. 24. — Bornholm. 

 Scale 1 : 350,000. 



all the southern portion of the great peninsula itself. When the Swedes took 

 possession of the three provinces of Scania, Halland, and Bleking in 1658, 

 Bornholm also was comprised in the treaty of cession, and was occupied by the 

 foreign troops commanded by Prinzenskjold ; but the people rose, and in one night 

 massacred all the invaders, except twelve at the time absent from the fortress of 

 Hammershuus. These were the " Bornholm Vespers." 



