East Indies a European perspective), archaically called Hither India and Further India. The first is the former British India, the second is Southeast Asia. Regions of the East Indies are sometimes known by the colonial empire they once belonged to, hence, "British East Indies" refers to Malaysia, "Dutch East Indies" means Indonesia, and "Spanish East Indies" means the Philippines. Historically, the king of Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia) was identified with "Prester John of the Indies", since that part of the world was imagined to be one of "Three Indias". Exploration of these regions by European powers first began in the late 15th century
East Cracroft Island . The island is separated from the mainland on its northwest by Chatham Channel, which leads from Knight Inlet to the entrance to Call Inlet which is to the east. Havannah Passage leads from the opening of Call Inlet south then west along the south side of the Cracroft Islands to Johnstone Strait. Hull Island is off East Cracroft's southeast in the Havannah Channel. On the island's north, separating it from Minstrel Island, is a narrows called The Blow Hole. East Cracroft Island East Cracroft Island is an island in the Johnstone Strait region of the Central Coast region of