WEST INDIES, or the ANTILLES, an extensive archipelago lying between North and South America, stretching from Florida to the shores of Venezuela. It is divided into the Bahamas, the group stretching from near the coast of Florida in a S. E. direction; the Greater Antilles, comprising the four largest islands of the group, Cuba, Haiti, Porto Rico, and Jamaica; and the Lesser Antilles, stretching like a great bow, with its con vexity toward the E., from Porto Rico to Trinidad, near the coast of Venezuela. Almost the whole archipelago lies within the torrid zone. The total area does not exceed 95,000 square miles, of which the Greater Antilles occupy nearly 83,000 square miles. The climate is extreme ly hot, and the islands abound in tropical productions, as sugar, cotton, coffee, cacao, tobacco, maize, etc.; or anges, lemons, limes, pomegranates, cit rons pineapples, manioc, yams, potatoes, etc. Except Cuba, Haiti (in Which there
are two republics) ; Porto Rico and other islands acquired by the United States from Spain, Virgin Islands acquired by the United States from Denmark, and a few islands off the coast of South Amer ica, the West Indian Islands are in the possession of European powers. The chief British possessions are: Jamaica, Barbadoes, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trini dad, Tobago, Antigua, St. Kitt's, Domin ica, Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas; Dutch St. Eustatius, Saba, St. Martin (partly French), Bonaire or Buen Ayre, Curacao, and Oruba or Aruba; and French, Martinique, Deseada, Guade loupe, Marie Galante, St. Martin (partly Dutch), St. Bartholomew, and Les Saintes. Two-thirds of the inhabitants are negroes. Total pop. about 6,000,000.