island in the Adriatic, belonging to the Austrian empire, and the crown land of Illyria, separated from the mainland by the channel of Morlaco, and from the island of Cherso on the S.W. by that of Plannich. It is about 24 miles in length, and half as much in breadth. The coast is bold; the surface rugged and mountainous; and the soil, except in the north and east, pretty fertile, producing wine, timber, and various fruits. Marble is the most important mineral in the island. Along the coast a productive fishery is carried on. There is a small town called Veglia, with a harbour and fort, on the south-west side. Pop. of the island 15,000.

Fehmic or Fehmic Courts, were secret tribunals established in Germany in the middle ages, terrible from the secrecy with which they carried on their proceedings, as well as from their organization and the extent of their authority. The members, who are said to have at one time amounted to not less than 100,000, were bound by a terrible oath to secrecy, and to obey and carry out the laws of the order. These tribunals are said to have originated with Charlemagne, but it was not till the thirteenth century that they reached their greatest prominence. The lawlessness and anarchy which prevailed at that time gave them work to do, and they gathered strength in the performance of it. They were professedly established to support virtue and peace and honour; but there is no doubt they were often perverted to the gratification of private malice and tyranny. Westphalia was the great centre of their jurisdiction, and was hence termed the Red Land. See Wigands Fehmgrichte Westphalens, 1827.