The Ancient People of South Florida The Calusa, Tequesta, and Jeaga and followed their traditional way of life until the early 1700s. That was when Spaniards from Cuba began enlisting the Calusa in commercial fishing ventures. About the same time Uchise and Yamasee Indians from the British colonies of Georgia and South Carolina began raiding the Calusa homeland, looking for people to sell as slaves. Fighting enemies who had guns (which the Calusa did not have), and pushed into closer contact with Spaniards (and their deadly European diseases), many Calusa died. For the survivors, years of poverty and hardship followed. Driven out of their island towns where fish were always there for the catching, the Calusa got along as best they could, roaming the swamps and beaches in search of food. In 1763, the last few Calusa set out for Cuba, leaving Florida forever.
20 2016 Historical Society of Palm Beach County