The colony of the Virgin Islands, a British colony situated in the Caribbean Sea northeast of Puerto Rico and west of the Leeward Islands, has an area of 59 sq. mi. (153 sq. km.). Capital: Road Town. The principal islands pf the 36-island group are Tortola, Virgin Gourda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke. ,Tortola, which has an area of about 24 sq. mi. (62sq. km.), is the largest of thirty-six islands, in the British Virgin Islands, a presidency of the British Leeward Islands. The Virgin Islands were discovered by Columbus in 1493, and named by him Las Virgenes, in honor of St. Ursula and her companions. It was settled by the Dutch in 1648, and was occupied by the British in 1666. They have held it ever since. The British Virgin Islands were formerly part of the administration of the Leeward Islands, but received a separate administration as a Crown Colony in 1950. A new constitution promulgated in 1967 provided for a ministerial form of government headed by the governor. ,, ,U.S.A. coins and currency continue to be the primary medium of exchange.,, Rulers:,,, ,British,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Shilling = 12 Pence,, ,1 Pound = 20 Shillings,,