CAYMAN ISLANDS  , a

group of three low-Iying islands in the West Indies . They consist of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, and are situated between 790 44' and 8o° 26' W. and 19° 44' and 19° 46' N., forming a dependency of Jamaica, which lies 178 m . E.S.E . Grand Cayman, a rock-bound island protected by coral reefs, is 17 M. long and varies from 4 M. to 7 M. in breadth . It has two towns, Georgetown and Boddentown . Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are both about 70 M . E.N.E. of Grand Cayman . Excepting near the rocky coast, the islands are fruitful, mahogany and other valuable timbers with some dye-wood are grown, and large quantities of coco-nuts are produced by the two smaller islands . Phosphate deposits of•considerable value are worked, but the principal occupation of the inhabitants is catching turtles for export to Jamaica . The people are excellent shipwrights and do a considerable trade in schooners built of native wood . The islands are governed by a commissioner, and the laws passed by the local legislative assembly are subject to the assent of the governor of Jamaica . The population of the group is about 5000 .

The islands were discovered by

Columbus, who named them Tortugas from the turtles with which the surrounding sea abounds . They were never occupied by the Spaniards and were colonized from Jamaica by the British .