TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, a group in the British West Indies, belonging geographically to the Bahamas. They are of coral and sand formation: combined area 169 sq.m. The Turks Islands, so named from the cactus resembling a turban, are nine in number; Grand Turk (io sq.m.) and Salt Cay (54 sq.m.) are the largest. The town of Grand Turk is the seat of government and a port of registry. Salt Cay has a good harbour. The Caicos Islands lie north-west of Turks Islands and are seven in number. Cockburn Harbour on South Caicos, 22 m. from Grand Turk, is a port of entry. The climate is healthy. Drinking water is scarce, the rainfall being only 274 in. The mean temperature is 82° F, but owing to the sea breezes the climate is not oppressive. Hurricanes are not infrequent. Salt raking is the staple industry. Sisal hemp is grown and some cotton. Sponges are plentiful and there are four curing factories. The exports, chiefly to the United States, include salt, sponges and sisal hemp. Grand Turk has a cable to Bermuda, Kingston and Jamaica, some 420 m. to the S.W. The islands were uninhabited when, about
1678 the Bermudians began to visit them to rake salt. In 1710 the British were expelled by the Spaniards, but they returned and the salt trade (largely with America) continued despite attacks by Spaniards and French, and counter-claims by the British authorities at the Bahamas, who about 1765 made good their claim. In 1799 the islands were given representation in in habitants Bahamas Assembly, but in 1848, on the petition of the n habitants they were made a separate colony under Jamaica, to which island, in 1873, they were annexed. They are governed by a commissioner assisted by a nominated legislative board. Popu lation (est. 1925) 5,50o; 200 white, the rest negro or mulatto; about 1,570 live in Grand Turk.
See the Jamaica Handbook (London, yearly) and Sir C. P. Lucas, Historical Geography of the British Colonies, vol. ii. (2nd ed., Oxford, 1905).