 When Europeans began to explore the Caribbean, Carib society had almost completely displaced the Arawaks.In 1493, on Christopher Columbus second voyages to the West Indies, upon first sighting the island he named it "Isla de San Martín" after Saint Martin of Tours because it was November 11, St. Martin Day.However, though he claimed it as a Spanish territory, Columbus never landed there, and Spain made the settlement of the island a low priority.