VIRGIN ISLANDS are an extensive group of small islands, which form part of the Columbian Archipelago, commonly called the West Indies. They lie between 18° 5 and 18° 50' N. let., 64° 10' and 65° 40' W. long., exclusive of the island of Santa Cruz, or Saint Croix, which properly does not belong to the group, but is commonly considered as forming part of it, because it belongs to Denmark, which also is in possession of some islands of the group itself. This island is about 50 miles S. from the centre of the Virgin Islands. The Virgin Islands extend iu nearly a straight line from west-south-west to east-north east, and occupy a space of about 100 miles in length, with an average width of 20 miles. The most western belong to Spain ; the most eastern belong to the British; those in the centre to Denmark.
The British islands lie between 64° 10' and 64° 50' W. long., and amount to about 50 in number ; but most of them are very small. They are stated to cover a surface not exceeding 60,000 acres, or between 93 and 94 square miles. The largest of these islands are Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Comance, Beef Island, Guana, Tortola, Jost van Dyke; s, and Peter's Island. The population of the whole of these islands iu 1350 was estimated at 7000 persons. The colonial income iu 1849 was 16751. A negada, which is the most north-eastern island of the whole group, contains 31,200 acres, but has only a few inhabitants. [ANEOADA.] Virgin Gorda, also called Spanish Town, which is con sidered to be a corruption of Peuniston, the original name of the island, consists of a rocky mass, and two peninsulas which project from the mountains to the cast and south-west. Of the rocky mass iu the centre of the island the summit is about 1500 feet high. The island is said to contain 9500 acres. The soil is sandy and dry. .The experts consist of sugar, rum, tobacco, indigo, peas, and some cotton. The produce of the island is sent to Tortola for exportation. At St. Thomas Bay, on the southern peninsula, is a group of houses called the Town. In the prolongation of the southern peninsula is a cluster
Of rocks, exhibiting a great variety of fantastic figures, resembling ruiued temples, columns, and arches. They are called the Fallen City, or Broken Jerusalem. Between Virgin Gorda and Tortola, at a short distance from the last-mentioned island, are—Great Comance, which is very rocky and elevated, and thinly inhabited ; and Beef Island, which is also rocky, but contains a considerable proportion of pasture-ground. Each of these islands contains an area of about 1500 acres. The small island of Guana lies north of Tortola.
Tortola, the most important of the British Virgin Islands, extends nearly ]2 miles from east-north-cast to west-eouth west, but its width does not exceed 2 miles. Its area is said to be 13,300 acres. It is a mountain-mass, broken up and furrowed by glens and ravines in every direction, so as to present a succession of undulating surfaces and precipitous eminences. The most elevated part runs through the middle of the island from east to west. Sage Hill, the highest summit, which lies west of Road Town, is 1650 feet above the level of the sea. The descent is more precipitous to the north than to the south, and high rocky masses advance to the water's edge on the north-west, but at all other places the country on the shores of the sea is of moderate elevation. The shores are indented with bays, harbours, and creeks, which afford shelter and anchorage fur a great quantity of ehippiug. The soil is dry, and has little depth. The capital of the island is Road Town, or Kingstown. It is built on the southern side of. the island. in the western bight of a deep bay, which is 5 miles long and 3j miles wide, and constitutes an excellent harbour, being perfectly land-locked on all sides. The town consists of only one long irregular street, which ineloses in a curve the base of a projecting point of laud, and lies close to the water's edge. The houses are mostly well built.