“It is about two months since 5 canoes with 150 Carib warriors came to this island of San Juan and disembarked in the river Humacao, near some Spanish settlements, where they killed 4 Christians and 13 Indians.  From here they went to some gold mines and then to some others, killing 2 Christians at each place.  They burned the houses and took a fishing smack, killing 4 more.  They remained from fifteen to twenty days in the country, the Christians being unable to hurt them, having no ships.  They killed 13 Christians in all, and as many Indian women, and ‘carried off’ 50 natives.  They will grow bolder for being allowed to depart without punishment.  It would be well if the Seville officers sent two light-draft vessels to occupy the mouths of the rivers by which they enter.”

On April 15, 1521, a large number of Indians made a descent on the south coast, but we have no details of their doings; and in 1529 their audacity culminated in an attempt on the capital itself.  La Gama’s report to the emperor of this event is as follows:  “On the 18th of October, after midnight, 8 large pirogues full of Caribs entered the bay of Puerto Rico, and meeting a bark on her way to Bayamon, manned by 5 negroes and some other people, they took her.  Finding that they had been discovered, they did not attempt a landing till sunrise, then they scuttled the bark.  Some shots fired at them made them leave.  Three negroes were found dead, pierced with arrows.  The people of this town and all along the coast are watching.  Such a thing as this has not been heard of since the discovery.  A fort, arms, artillery, and 2 brigantines of 30 oars each, and no Caribs will dare to come.  If not sent, fear will depopulate the island.”

In the same month of the following year (1530) they returned, and this time landed and laid waste the country in the neighborhood of the capital.  The report of the crown officers is dated the 31st of October:  “Last Sunday, the 23d instant, 11 canoes, in which there may have been 500 Caribs, came to this island and landed at a point where there are some agricultural establishments belonging to people of this city.  It is the place where the best gold in the island is found, called Daguao and the mines of Llagueello.  Here they plundered the estate of Christopher Guzman, the principal settler.  They killed him and some other Christians,[32] whites, blacks, and Indians, besides some fierce dogs, and horses which stood ready saddled.  They burned them all, together with the houses, and committed many cruelties with the Christians.  They carried off 25 negroes and Indians, to eat them, as is their wont.  We fear that they will attack the defenseless city in greater force, and the fear is so great that the women and children dare not sleep in their houses, but go to the church and the monastery, which are built of stone.  We men guard the city and the roads, being unable to attend to our business.

“We insist that 2 brigantines be armed and equipped, as was ordered by the Catholic king.  No Caribs will then dare to come.  Let the port be fortified or the island will be deserted.  The governor and the officers know how great is the need, but they may make no outlays without express orders.”