Indies

A severe ocean storm hit the West Indies.

The U.S. purchased the territory now known as the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1916, under the Treaty of the Danish West Indies.

In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies.

Nevertheless, while their doings were not recognized officially by the government, the perpetrators were neither punished nor reprimanded for their excursions against Spanish commerce at home or in the West Indies; rather were they commended, and it was considered not altogether a discreditable thing for men to get rich upon the spoils taken from Spanish galleons in times of nominal peace.

There followed a remarkable period of maritime expansion by the Portuguese, who by the end of the century would establish a sea route to the Indies, rounding Africa and crossing the Indian Ocean to reach the subcontinent itself and the Spice Islands that lay beyond.

the Spanish Indies