or LUCAYA, ISLANDS, are the eastermost of the Antilles, lying in the Atlantic ocean. They are situated to the south of Carolina, between 22 and 27 degrees N. Lat. and 73 and 81 degrees W. Long. They extend along the coast of Florida quite down to the isle of Cuba, and are said to be 500 in number, some of them only bare rocks; but twelve of them are large, fertile, and in nothing different from the soil of Carolina: all are, however, uninhabited except Providence, which is 200 miles east of the Floridas; though some others are larger and more fertile, on which the English have plantations. Between them and the continent of Florida is the gulf of Bahama or Florida, through which the Spanish galleons sail in their passage to Europe.

These islands are the first fruits of Columbus's discoveries; but they were not known to the English till 1667, when Captain Seyle, being driven among them in his passage to Carolina, gave his name to one of them; and being a second time driven upon it, gave it the name of Providence. The English, observing the advantageous situation of these islands for being a check on the French and Spaniards, attempted to settle them in the reign of Charles II. Some unlucky accidents prevented this settlement from being of any advantage; and the isle of Providence became an harbour for the buccaneers or pirates, who, for a long time infested the American navigation. This obliged the government in 1718 to send out Captain Woodes Rogers with a fleet to dislodge the pirates, and for making a settlement. This the captain effected; a fort was erected, and an independent company was stationed in the island. Ever since this last settlement these islands have been improving, though they advance but slowly. In time of war, people gain considerably by the prizes condemned there; and at all times by the wrecks, which are frequent in this labyrinth of rocks and shelves. The Spaniards and Americans captured these islands during the last war; but they were retaken by a detachment from St Augustine, April 7. 1783. Cotton has been introduced into the Bahamas, where it is now successfully cultivated. The quantity exported in 1792 was 5047 bales, which amounted to 1,162,822 pounds.