The bigger islands said they could stand alone economically.

An island, say, in the Greek Sea, which had so many?

Only in Grenada did it take root, and today the island says it accounts for 30 percent of the world crop.

In mythology it was the principal island of the "Electrides", islands said to produce amber.

Rats have now infested more than a dozen large Alaskan islands, scientists say, and are present on dozens of smaller ones.

"Western islands," he said, dropping his voice as we approached.

"West 73d Street and a tiny Greek island," she said, shaking her head.

Small island," he said, crossing to the chart of the Java Sea.

"That island, sir," he said, gesturing over the larboard bow.

The island says it has a beach for every day of the year, and describes itself as the sailing capital of the Caribbean.