Show virgin islands include numerous NumerO small islands the virgin group comprises a large number of small islands only a few of them of any considerable imbor tance lying to the east of porto rico between the caribbean and the atlantic ocean they include not only those which the united states bought from denmark and which were tor for me merly aly known as the danish west in dies but also a number which conati tute tuto a british colony called the virgin islands columbus discovered the group on his second voyage in 1494 it Is said he was amazed at the number of them and feared he would not have enough saints names to go round so he put them under the sacred pa of the martyred virgins of st ursula danish traders early established themselves on st thomas and by a sort of squatter sovereignty the island was taken under danish adminis tra tion in 1671 st john and st croix and smaller islands were added in 17 1733 93 the british meanwhile ampro the ret of the group in 1807 68 the american state department part ment sought to buy the danish islands denmark was willing to sell and the islanders were eager for the transfer but the united states senate refused to ratify in 1902 a second treaty was as signed and the united states was to have the islands for 5 but the danish upper house did not ratify in 1917 the transfer was finally effected this country pay ing 25 |