The new settlement’s existence was short.  It was destroyed by the Indians in the insurrection of February of the following year, when Christopher Soto Mayor and 80 more of his countrymen, who had imprudently settled in isolated localities in the interior, fell victims of the rage of the natives.

Diego Columbus proposed the reconstruction of the destroyed settlement, with the appellation of San German.  The king approved, and near the end of the year 1512, Miguel del Torro, one of Ponce’s companions, was delegated to choose a site.  He fixed upon the bay of Guayanilla, eastward of Guanica, and San German became the port of call for the Spanish ships bound to Paria.  Its proximity to the “pearl coast,” as the north shore of Venezuela was named, made it the point of departure for all who wished to reach that coast or escape from the shores of poverty-stricken Puerto Rico—­namely, the dreamers of the riches of Peru, those who, like Sedeno, aspired to new conquests on the mainland, or crown officers who had good reasons for wishing to avoid giving an account of their administration of the royal revenues.  The comparative prosperity which it enjoyed made San German the object of repeated attacks by the French privateers.  It was burned and plundered several times during the forty-three years of its existence, till one day in September, 1554, three French ships of the line entered the port and landed a detachment of troops who plundered and destroyed everything to a distance of a league and a half into the interior.  From that day San German, founded by Miguel del Torro, ceased to exist.

The town with the same name, existing at present on the southwest coast, was founded in 1570 by Governor Francisco Solis with the remains of the ill-fated settlement on the bay of Guayanilla.  The Dominican friars had a large estate in this neighborhood, and the new settlement enhanced its value.  Both the governor and the bishop were natives of Salamanca, and named the place New Salamanca, but the name of New San German has prevailed.  In 1626 the new town had 50 citizens (vecinos).

San Juan.—­Licentiate Velasquez, one of the king’s officers at Caparra, wrote to his Highness in April, 1515:  " ...  The people of this town wish to move to an islet in the port.  I went to see it with the town council and it looks well”; and some time later:  " ...  We will send a description of the islet to which it is convenient to remove the town of Puerto Rico.”

Ponce opposed the change.  His reasons were that the locality of Caparra was dry and level, with abundance of wood, water, and pasture, and that most of the inhabitants, occupied as they were with gold-washing, had to provide themselves with provisions from the neighboring granges.  He recognized that the islet was healthier, but maintained that the change would benefit only the traders.