Columbus was supposed to be sailing to the Far East to reach the source of Europe's main luxury imports: spices and silk.

When he reached the western continents he believed he had reached a part of the East, generally known at that time as The Indies. Thus he referred to the inhabitants as Indians. By the time it was realized that the land was not the east the name had become attached. Politically correct terminology, Native Americans, Amerindians and so on may eventually replace the term, but it is convenient. In Trinidad and Guyana there is a need to refer to East Indians for those immigrants from India.