MAN, ISLE OF

(c. 54° 15’ N., 4° 30’ W.), island in Irish Sea, 16 miles from Wig towns hire, 28 miles from Cumber land, 33 miles from Ireland; has area of 220 sq. miles; surface undulating, sloping up from rocky coast to central ridge, which reaches 2,034 ft. in Snaefell. Chief towns are Douglas, Ramsay, Castle town, and Peel. There are many Runic cro es, stone circles, and other interesting remains. Island is sometimes conjecturally identified with Rom. Mona, but its early history remains obscure, although it is known to have been inhabited by Celts. Suffered from Scand in avian fnvasions in IX. cent., towards end of which it was taken by Harold Haarfager. In 1098 it was conquered by Magnus of Norway, and remained under Norwegian control until 1266, when it was transferred to Alexander III. of Scotland. Alexander died in 1285, and the Manx appealed to Edward I., who occupied island in 1290; it was regained by Scots under Bruce in 1313, but ultimately came to po e ion of English king, c. 1346. It was granted at various dates to royal favorites, and in 1406 Henry IV. bestowed it on Sir John Stanley, whose descendants, earls of Derby and kings of Man, held it for many generations almost without interruption. Title of lord was substituted for king in 1651. Island came by inheritance to James, Duke of Atholl, in 1735, from whose succe or it was bought by the government in 1765. Administration is carried out by lieut-gov., a Council, and the House of Keys, latter having 24 members elected by popular vote. Pop. 1921, 50,288. See arm of Indian Ocean between India and Ceylon. eno. Own, an ajo jorca, Spain. in, Pop. 2 capital, Nicaragua, on Lake M.; exports coffee. Pop. 40,000.