The West Indies are the islands that separate the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, modern day Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. Slave labor had been used in the West Indies for close to two hundred years, but around the time of North and South things had started to change. Britain abolished slavery completely in 1838 and were followed by the French in 1848 and the Dutch in 1863.  

The West Indies are never directly mentioned in North and South, the West Indies is mentioned in connection with Frederick and the mutiny. Mrs. Hale mentions that a “West Indian streamer” picked up those of the crew that were not the mutineers. She says that there was a list published by the paper of the men who were picked up, along with the story of the mutiny.  

The mention of the West Indies, in regard to this streamer is to put the text in conversation with the trade going on in the Atlantic Ocean. A streamer is the flag that flies over the vessel. This shows that the vessel is from the West Indies and is most likely carrying cargo.  

Brereton, Bridget M. and Clarke, Colin Graham. "West Indies". Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Nov. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/place/West-Indies-island-group-Atlantic-Ocean. Accessed 30 March 2021.