The temperature is low in summer and correspondingly high in winter. Heavy fogs cover the islands during the greater portion of the year and a perfectly clear day is rare. When the sun breaks through the mists, the effect of the shifting clouds, the areas of snow on the upper peaks and the myriads of waterfalls form a magnificent picture. Seventeen of the islands are inhabited with a population of 16,000 people. The largest island is _Strömö_, Stream, which is twenty-seven miles long. The capital, _Thorshaven_, Harbor-of-Thor, with a population of 8,000 people, is located on the east coast of _Strömö_. These islands belong to Denmark and have two representatives in the Danish Parliament. All local affairs are conducted in the _Lagthing_, Law-Assembly, at _Thorshaven_. The people are exempt from conscription and of nearly all customs, duties and taxes. The members of the _Lagthing_ are chosen by ballot for a term of three years. The President is appointed by the Danish King for life. The local taxes are collected by native sheriffs, who canvass their districts four times each year. The sheriffs also have charge of the division and distribution of the captured whales. Lawyers are resident at _Thorshaven_ and at no other place in the islands. Criminal and civil cases are tried before a judge and without a jury. All petty cases come before the local sheriff. The head man of each village enforces the sanitary regulations and other local rules. There are no policemen in the islands and crime, unless committed by foreign sailors, usually Scotch fishermen, is extremely rare. The _Faroese_ are peaceable and sensitive of any scandal if it passes beyond the borders of their own village. It is the duty of every man to see to it that the law is maintained, and they keep a careful watch of all foreigners when on shore. There is only one jail in the islands and a Faroeman smilingly declared to me that it was for the sole benefit of the Shetland fishermen. The law permits a prisoner to diet only on bread and water. A man serving a sentence spends three days in jail and then enjoys three days of freedom alternately until the entire term of the confinement is completed. There is no danger of his making an escape. [Illustration: _Cutting up Whale Meat at Thorshavn._ _Heads of the Bottle Nose Whale._] In _Thorshaven_ and in the larger villages there are schools. There is also a Teacher’s College in the capital city. The people have local option in educational matters and many prefer to teach their children at home. If it is voted to have a school in a given village, then all the children must attend it, the parents must supply a teacher and provide sufficient pasturage for one cow for the use of the teacher, but the government pays the meager salary.