76 THE ABORIGINES OF PORTO RICO [eth. ann. 26 



reached her teens, was naturally of a joyous disposition, and liked, aliove all thiniis, 

 to romp and play in the fields. 



"After they were locked up and the Evil One had covered the top with the stone, 

 another urgent pleading on the part of Cacique caused to be left a small opening 

 (the mouth of the cave), in order that Cacique might see every now and then the 

 bhie sky and breathe a little pure air. 



"The young princess, who had maintained a silent demeanor during this time, 

 jumped up with a joyous shout when the Evil One had left. Her parents were 

 astonished at her actions. She ran to a thin but strong vine which wa.s growing in 

 tlie intei-ior of the cave, such as is called by the mountaineers 'bejuco,' and, hauling 

 herself uj) hand over hand, soon reached the small opening at the top. Once tliere, 

 what was the surprise of her parents to see their beautiful young pearl force her 

 tiny body through the small aperture. On reaching the open air the young girl met 

 a mountaineer called Juan, who gave her some honey whicli he had gathered. This 

 she took to her luirents, and all rejoiced. 



"The Evil One found it out and wanted to close the opening, but the pitiful plea 

 and pearly tears of the young princess finally made him compromise as follows: The 

 opening should be left open forever, but she could talk to no one but on one day in 

 the year, which should be San Juan's day, and then only to a first-born son whose 

 name should be Juan. And the time was limited to the glimpse of daylight seen 

 before the sun's rays struck their habitation." 



It is a lonj^- time .since this liappened, and, the writer has been 

 assured, several Juans have talked with her, although he could never 

 ol)tain an interview with one of tho.se privileged human beings. How- 

 ever, the young peasant woman who related this tale to me assured me 

 that there existed no doubt on that subject, and, indeed, it seemed to 

 be taken for gi'anted that it is true. 



In the course of her tale, when alluding to the beaut}^ of the princess, 

 she noticed the eyes of my young guide sparkle and she immediately 

 remarked: *'0h, that was hundreds of years ago. and she nuist l)e 

 quite an old woman by this time." 



In connection with this tale, the following incident was narrated to 

 me. which .seemed to prove to the majority of these peasants the authen- 

 ticity of the story: 



A Spaniard once climbed to Cacique rock, accompanied by a large "Newfoundlard 

 dog. The opening at the mouth of the rock must not lie entered by anyone, as this 

 angers Cacique. It ajipears that, as the dog could not talk, he went into the cave, 

 and, in spite of the anxious calls made by its master, has not been heard from up to 

 this date. 



If any of the readers of the.se pages is qualified, under the conditions 

 required by El Enemigo, to talk with the once fair 'princess, the 

 writer will gladly accompany him on San Juan's day to Cacique, in 

 order to obtain what pei-haps might he an interesting interview -\\ith 

 the enchanted princess of Cacique rock. 



THE NAME BORINQUEN 



In his letter" to the Catholic monarchs Columbus states that tiie 

 natives of the islands that he had discovered did not differ in customs 



a R. H. Major, Select Letters of Christopher Columbus. 



