72 SCANDINAVIA. 



fishing populations of the seaboard. It comprised, in 1877, 2,830 men, under 

 1 admiral, 9 commanders, 22 captains, and 102 lieutenants. 



The Danish colonial possessions are very extensive, though the two largest 

 territories, Iceland and Greenland, are mostly uninhabitable. The vast ice-fields 

 of Greenland have with difficulty been penetrated for short distances at a few 

 points, and its extension towards the pole is still a problem awaiting solution. 

 Next to Iceland, the most important possessions are the three West Indian islands 

 of Santa Cruz, St. Thomas, and St. John, at the north-east junction of the 

 Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic. The harbour of St. Thomas is one of the chief 

 naval stations and ports of call in these waters. 



The financial condition of Denmark contrasts favourably with that of larger 

 states. The expenditure, averaging about £2,600,000, is usually covered by the 

 revenue, and if the national debt has recently been considerably increased, this is 

 mainly due to the construction of railways. She has wisely ceased to make useless 

 chronic preparations for a life-and-death struggle with her formidable southern 

 neio'hbour, and most of the fortresses have been either dismantled, or, like those 

 of Rosenborg and Frederiksborg, converted into museums and royal retreats. 



The covmtry is divided administratively into eighteen amter, or bailiwicks, and 

 one hundred and thirty- six herreder, or circles.* 



* For Statistical Tables see Appendix. 



