The first inhabitants of Statia were the Saladoids who arrived in great sea-going canoes from South America before the end of the 15th century. In the 1600's slaves of African descent were brought to the island to cultivate the land of the more than seventy plantations. At the end of the 18th century slavery had been outlawed in the Netherlands Antilles. Today people of more than 20 nationalities live in harmony on this peaceful Dutch Caribbean island.