This tale, dated from around 1511, might be the Puerto Rican version of Romeo and Juliet or the legend of Capt. John Smith and his native indian bride, Pocahontas..
As the sun set on the south-coast Taíno Indian village of Guainía, near today's town of Guánica, a young and handsome conquistador from Valladolid, Cristóbal de Sotomayor, turned to thoughts of life in faraway Spain. Caparra had been founded by Juan Ponce de León just three years earlier. The youth's reverie was interrupted by Guanina, a beautiful Taíno maiden who warned him of an imminent Indian uprising and implored him to flee with her into the mountains.She and Sotomayor had fallen hopelessly in love...Being of a proud nature Cristóbal made light of her tears. The next morning he spoke openly to Guaybaná, Guanina's brother and a main chieftain about his intentions to return to Caparra via Guaorabo. Guaybaná despised the Spaniards and when the Conquistadors left, he followed with 300 of his men. Though greatly outnumbered, Sotomayor fought valiantly earning in death the grudging respect of Guaybaná. Guanina, beside herself with grief, fell upon the body of his beloved and also died...The two were found dead, Guanina's head resting on his bloody chest.
It was said that a witch doctor buried their bodies under the roots of a towering Ceiba tree and that white lilies and red poppies grew from their graves.
To this day, farmers hear sweet love songs amid the soft
sighs of the Ceiba's leaves, and they believe that the lovers' souls leave
the tomb to contemplate the evening star and to renew their vows of devotion,
kissing the rays of the Moon...
