Final Answer:
The indigenous people of the Bahamas called themselves the Lucayans. Christopher Columbus referred to them as "Indians."
Step-by-step explanation:
The Lucayans were the indigenous people inhabiting the Bahamas before the arrival of Christopher Columbus. They were part of the Taino culture, a group of Arawakan-speaking indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The Lucayans had their own distinct identity, culture, and language within the broader Taino framework. They were skilled seafarers and lived a life closely connected to the sea, relying on fishing and other marine resources.
Upon his arrival in the Americas, Christopher Columbus mistakenly believed he had reached Asia, and he referred to the indigenous people he encountered as "Indians." This misnomer persisted in historical terminology and is a reminder of the initial confusion and misconception surrounding Columbus's voyages. Despite realizing that he had not reached Asia, the term "Indian" endured as a label for the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Columbus's encounter with the Lucayans in the Bahamas marked a significant moment in the history of European exploration and the subsequent interactions between the Old World and the New World.
In summary, the Lucayans were the original inhabitants of the Bahamas, and they called themselves the Lucayans. Christopher Columbus, due to his mistaken belief in reaching Asia, referred to them as "Indians," a term that persisted in historical discourse despite its inaccuracy.