The Jaega (also Jega, Xega, Jaece, Geiga) were Native Americans living in a chiefdom of the same name, which included the coastal parts of present-day Martin County and northern Palm Beach County, Florida at the time of initial European contact, and until the 18th century. The area occupied by the Jaega corresponds to the East Okeechobee Area, an archaeological culture that is part of, or closely related to, the Belle Glade culture. The name Jobé, or Jové[ˈxoβe], has been identified as a synonym of Jaega, a sub-group of the Jaega, or a town of the Jaega.
Approximate territory of the Jaega chiefdom in the late 17th Century
Partial map showing Jaega (Xega) presence in South Florida (c. 1600)
The East Okeechobee Area has received relatively little attention from archaeologists, and little is known of the origins of the Jaega. The earliest mention of the Jaega came from Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda, who was held captive by indigenous peoples in Florida for 17 years until 1665 or 1666. He relates that the Jaega, along with the Ais and the obscure Guacata, salvaged precious metals and other goods from ships that wrecked along the Florida coast.[1] Escalante Fontaneda also implied that the Jaega spoke the same language as the Ais, who lived along the Indian River Lagoon to the north of the Jaega.[2][3] The Jaega may have been related to the Ais people, who occupied the coast to their north. (The Ais language has been linked to the Chitimacha language by linguist Julian Granberry.[4]) The Jaega were linked to the Ais by marriage between chiefs and their relatives.[5]
In 1665, the Spanish built the Presidio of Santa Lucia at what is probably the present-day St. Lucie River in the territory of the Ais people. The Spanish were soon driven out of Ais territory and built a new fort called Santa Lucia at the Jupiter Inlet, in Jaega territory. The Jaega were initially friendly towards the Spanish, but later attacked the presidio and forced the Spanish to withdraw less than a year later.[6][7] Jonathan Dickinson placed the Ais town he called Santa Lucea two days' travel north of the Jupiter Inlet.[8] The names Jaega and Jobé (or variants thereof) appear on 17th-century Spanish maps of Florida, and in Spanish reports.[9]
The displayed partial map is titled Planta de la costa de la Florida'y en que paraje La Laguna de Ma'ymi'y adonde se ha de hacer un fuerte (Map of the coast of La Florida and in which spot the Lake of Maimi and to where we have to make a fort) dated circa 1600. The original is in the Archives of the Indies in Sevilla, Spain, identified as Maps de Mexico y Florida from the collection of Pedro Torre Lanzas, cartographer unknown. A reproduction is held by the Library of Congress.[10] It shows the relative locations of Saint Augustine (S Agustin), Cape Canaveral (Cabo de Cañabezal), as well as the approximate territories of the Ays (Ais) and Xega tribes.
Jonathan Dickinson, who was part of a shipwrecked party detained in the town of Jobé for several days in 1696, wrote a Journal that contains descriptions of the people of Jobé (near present-day Jupiter Inlet). He wrote that Jobé was subject to the Ais chief who resided in Jece (near present-day Vero Beach).[11]
Culture
There is little written history about the Jaega. They were likely similar in culture and custom to the surrounding Calusa, Tekesta and Ais tribes. The indigenous peoples of South Florida were all hunter-gatherers. Food was abundant enough to make agriculture unnecessary. Middens (Refuse mounds), consisting mostly of oyster and conch shells, also contain clues to the Jaega culture. Their diet consisted mainly of fish, shellfish, sea turtles, deer and raccoon, as well as wild plants including cocoplums, sea grapes, palmetto berries and tubers.[12] Bits of broken pots and scraps of grass skirts demonstrate that crafts including pottery and weaving were known and practiced. One of the largest and best preserved Jaega middens is within what is now DuBois Park at the Jupiter Inlet Historic and Archeological Site, across from the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.[12]
Although there are no deposits of flint in South Florida, flint dart points have been found at Jaega sites, indicating trade with northern tribes.[12] The people used wood, bone and shell to craft tools and weapons.
Spanish reports describe elaborate ceremonies involving an elite class of priests, hundreds of singers and dancers, and complex ritual practice.[13]
Later names
The geographic name "Hobe Sound" is derived from the name of the Jaega village of Jobé. The Spanish pronounced the name "Ho-bay," which has evolved into the current anglicized "Hobe" (which is pronounced like "robe").[14] The name of the Jupiter Inlet may have been derived from "Jové", anglicized as "Jove".[15]
^Granberry, Julian (2011). The Calusa: Linguistic and Cultural Relationships. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: The University of Alabama Press. p. 47. ISBN978-0-8173-1751-5.
Austin, Daniel W. (Summer–Fall 1997). "The Glades Indians and the Plants they Used. Ethnobotany of an Extinct Culture" (PDF). The Palmetto. 17 (2): 7–11.
Brech, Alan (2004). Neither Ocean nor Continent: Correlating the Archeology and Geomorphology of the Barrier Islands of East Central Florida(PDF) (Unpublished thesis). University of Florida. Retrieved November 27, 2005.
Carr, Robert S. (2012). Ashley, Keith; White, Nancy Marie (eds.). Mississippian Influence in the Glades, Belle Glade and East Okeechobee Area of South Florida. Late Prehistoric Florida: Archaeology at the Edge of the Mississippian World. Gainesville, Florida: University Press of Florida. pp. 62–80. ISBN978-0-8130-4014-1.
Dickinson, Jonathan (1700). God's protecting providence, man's surest help and defence, in times of the greatest difficulty, and most eminent danger. Evidenced in the remarkable deliverance of Robert Barrow, with divers other persons, from the devouring waves of the sea; amongst which they suffered shipwrack: and also, from the cruel, devouring jaws of the inhumane canibals of Florida (2nd ed.). London. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
Hann, John H. (2003). Indians of Central and South Florida: 1513-1763. Gainesville, Florida: University Press of Florida. ISBN0-8130-2645-8.
Wheeler, Ryan J.; Pepe, James P. (September–December 2002). "The Jobé and Jaega of the Palm Beach County Area". The Florida Anthropologist. 55 (3–4): 221–241 – via University of Florida Digital Collections.
January 11, 2023
jaega, also, jega, xega, jaece, geiga, were, native, americans, living, chiefdom, same, name, which, included, coastal, parts, present, martin, county, northern, palm, beach, county, florida, time, initial, european, contact, until, 18th, century, area, occupi. The Jaega also Jega Xega Jaece Geiga were Native Americans living in a chiefdom of the same name which included the coastal parts of present day Martin County and northern Palm Beach County Florida at the time of initial European contact and until the 18th century The area occupied by the Jaega corresponds to the East Okeechobee Area an archaeological culture that is part of or closely related to the Belle Glade culture The name Jobe or Jove ˈxobe has been identified as a synonym of Jaega a sub group of the Jaega or a town of the Jaega Approximate territory of the Jaega chiefdom in the late 17th Century Contents 1 History 2 Culture 3 Later names 4 Notes 5 ReferencesHistory Edit Partial map showing Jaega Xega presence in South Florida c 1600 The East Okeechobee Area has received relatively little attention from archaeologists and little is known of the origins of the Jaega The earliest mention of the Jaega came from Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda who was held captive by indigenous peoples in Florida for 17 years until 1665 or 1666 He relates that the Jaega along with the Ais and the obscure Guacata salvaged precious metals and other goods from ships that wrecked along the Florida coast 1 Escalante Fontaneda also implied that the Jaega spoke the same language as the Ais who lived along the Indian River Lagoon to the north of the Jaega 2 3 The Jaega may have been related to the Ais people who occupied the coast to their north The Ais language has been linked to the Chitimacha language by linguist Julian Granberry 4 The Jaega were linked to the Ais by marriage between chiefs and their relatives 5 In 1665 the Spanish built the Presidio of Santa Lucia at what is probably the present day St Lucie River in the territory of the Ais people The Spanish were soon driven out of Ais territory and built a new fort called Santa Lucia at the Jupiter Inlet in Jaega territory The Jaega were initially friendly towards the Spanish but later attacked the presidio and forced the Spanish to withdraw less than a year later 6 7 Jonathan Dickinson placed the Ais town he called Santa Lucea two days travel north of the Jupiter Inlet 8 The names Jaega and Jobe or variants thereof appear on 17th century Spanish maps of Florida and in Spanish reports 9 The displayed partial map is titled Planta de la costa de la Florida y en que paraje La Laguna de Ma ymi y adonde se ha de hacer un fuerte Map of the coast of La Florida and in which spot the Lake of Maimi and to where we have to make a fort dated circa 1600 The original is in the Archives of the Indies in Sevilla Spain identified as Maps de Mexico y Florida from the collection of Pedro Torre Lanzas cartographer unknown A reproduction is held by the Library of Congress 10 It shows the relative locations of Saint Augustine S Agustin Cape Canaveral Cabo de Canabezal as well as the approximate territories of the Ays Ais and Xega tribes Jonathan Dickinson who was part of a shipwrecked party detained in the town of Jobe for several days in 1696 wrote a Journal that contains descriptions of the people of Jobe near present day Jupiter Inlet He wrote that Jobe was subject to the Ais chief who resided in Jece near present day Vero Beach 11 Culture EditThere is little written history about the Jaega They were likely similar in culture and custom to the surrounding Calusa Tekesta and Ais tribes The indigenous peoples of South Florida were all hunter gatherers Food was abundant enough to make agriculture unnecessary Middens Refuse mounds consisting mostly of oyster and conch shells also contain clues to the Jaega culture Their diet consisted mainly of fish shellfish sea turtles deer and raccoon as well as wild plants including cocoplums sea grapes palmetto berries and tubers 12 Bits of broken pots and scraps of grass skirts demonstrate that crafts including pottery and weaving were known and practiced One of the largest and best preserved Jaega middens is within what is now DuBois Park at the Jupiter Inlet Historic and Archeological Site across from the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse 12 Although there are no deposits of flint in South Florida flint dart points have been found at Jaega sites indicating trade with northern tribes 12 The people used wood bone and shell to craft tools and weapons Spanish reports describe elaborate ceremonies involving an elite class of priests hundreds of singers and dancers and complex ritual practice 13 Later names EditThe geographic name Hobe Sound is derived from the name of the Jaega village of Jobe The Spanish pronounced the name Ho bay which has evolved into the current anglicized Hobe which is pronounced like robe 14 The name of the Jupiter Inlet may have been derived from Jove anglicized as Jove 15 Notes Edit Wheeler amp Pepe 2002 p 234 Hann 2003 p 62 Austin 1997 p 2 Granberry Julian 2011 The Calusa Linguistic and Cultural Relationships Tuscaloosa Alabama The University of Alabama Press p 47 ISBN 978 0 8173 1751 5 Brech 125 Wheeler amp Pepe 2002 pp 224 233 Hann 2003 p 78 Dickinson 1700 pp 16 24 Wheeler amp Pepe 2002 pp 224 225 Old Florida Maps com Dickinson 1700 pp 34 38 a b c Early Tribes Jaega and Jobe Palm Beach County History Online Jonathan W Koontz Lake Worth Jewel of the Gold Coast Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce 1997 pp 41 46 Hobe Sound History hobesound org The Hobe Sound Chamber of Commerce Inc Archived from the original on February 7 2008 Retrieved October 10 2018 Wheeler amp Pepe 2002 p 221 References EditAustin Daniel W Summer Fall 1997 The Glades Indians and the Plants they Used Ethnobotany of an Extinct Culture PDF The Palmetto 17 2 7 11 Brech Alan 2004 Neither Ocean nor Continent Correlating the Archeology and Geomorphology of the Barrier Islands of East Central Florida PDF Unpublished thesis University of Florida Retrieved November 27 2005 Carr Robert S 2012 Ashley Keith White Nancy Marie eds Mississippian Influence in the Glades Belle Glade and East Okeechobee Area of South Florida Late Prehistoric Florida Archaeology at the Edge of the Mississippian World Gainesville Florida University Press of Florida pp 62 80 ISBN 978 0 8130 4014 1 Dickinson Jonathan 1700 God s protecting providence man s surest help and defence in times of the greatest difficulty and most eminent danger Evidenced in the remarkable deliverance of Robert Barrow with divers other persons from the devouring waves of the sea amongst which they suffered shipwrack and also from the cruel devouring jaws of the inhumane canibals of Florida 2nd ed London Retrieved 24 March 2010 Hann John H 2003 Indians of Central and South Florida 1513 1763 Gainesville Florida University Press of Florida ISBN 0 8130 2645 8 Wheeler Ryan J Pepe James P September December 2002 The Jobe and Jaega of the Palm Beach County Area The Florida Anthropologist 55 3 4 221 241 via University of Florida Digital Collections Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jaega amp oldid 1132675453, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
