The document tells a legend from the island of La Gomera about a forbidden love between Gara, the princess of Agulo, and Jonay, the son of the Mencey of Adeje from Tenerife. When their love was made public, the volcanic mountain El Teide erupted in Tenerife, seen as a bad omen for their relationship since Gara was associated with water and Jonay with fire. Their families forbade them from seeing each other again. Defying this, Jonay swam across the sea to see Gara, but they were discovered. Rather than be separated, they embraced and fell to their deaths, piercing their hearts with a cedar rod and becoming united

1. It´s said that there were sevenIt´s said that there were seven
places from where magic waterplaces from where magic water
emanated, and whose origin no oneemanated, and whose origin no one
knew in La Gomera.knew in La Gomera.

2. These seven streams, apart fromThese seven streams, apart from
giving virtues to those who drank fromgiving virtues to those who drank from
them, let them know, when lookingthem, let them know, when looking
into their waters, if they were datinginto their waters, if they were dating
or not.or not.

3. If water was clear, love would come,If water was clear, love would come,
but if it was turbid, there was not abut if it was turbid, there was not a
moment to wait.moment to wait.

4. Beñesmén festivities wereBeñesmén festivities were
approaching, the most important oneapproaching, the most important one
of that time, so a group of youngof that time, so a group of young
women came to the Epina streams towomen came to the Epina streams to
look themselves on its waters.look themselves on its waters.

5. Among them was Gara, the princess ofAmong them was Gara, the princess of
Agulo.Agulo.

6. She leaned out, and at first, a quietShe leaned out, and at first, a quiet
and perfect image was displayed, butand perfect image was displayed, but
then shadows emerged and it beganthen shadows emerged and it began
to stir, until suddenly, a burning sunto stir, until suddenly, a burning sun
dazzled all her beauty.dazzled all her beauty.

7. On hearing that, Gerián, the sage ofOn hearing that, Gerián, the sage of
the place, made her a warning:​​the place, made her a warning:​​

8. - What must happen, will happen.- What must happen, will happen.
Escape from fire Gara, or fire shallEscape from fire Gara, or fire shall
consume you.consume you.
Gara kept silent, but the sad omen ranGara kept silent, but the sad omen ran
from mouth to mouth.from mouth to mouth.

9. On the eve of the festivities, MenceyesOn the eve of the festivities, Menceyes
and other noblemen came fromand other noblemen came from
Tenerife. The Mencey of Adeje wasTenerife. The Mencey of Adeje was
accompanied by his son, Jonay, aaccompanied by his son, Jonay, a
strong and handsome young man.strong and handsome young man.

10. Gara couldn´t stop watching him, andGara couldn´t stop watching him, and
as their eyes met, love hopelesslyas their eyes met, love hopelessly
caught them.caught them.

11. Shortly after, even at festivities, theirShortly after, even at festivities, their
commitment was public. But when thecommitment was public. But when the
happy news was spread…happy news was spread…

12. El Teide, the majestic volcano of
Tenerife, formerly known as Echeyde
(Hell), began to spew lava and fire, so
hard that from La Gomera the show
was scary.

13. They remembered then the omenThey remembered then the omen
given to the innocent Gara…given to the innocent Gara…

14. Gara, the Princess of Agulo, the waterGara, the Princess of Agulo, the water
place; Jonay, pure fire, from the islandplace; Jonay, pure fire, from the island
of hell ... That love was impossibleof hell ... That love was impossible
then ... Great evils were coming if notthen ... Great evils were coming if not
separated.separated.

15. So, their parents ordered sharply notSo, their parents ordered sharply not
to see each other again.to see each other again.

16. Once the volcano was subsided, andOnce the volcano was subsided, and
the festivities concluded, all visitorsthe festivities concluded, all visitors
returned to Tenerife, but one left withreturned to Tenerife, but one left with
an empty soul ...an empty soul ...

17. Legend says thas Jonay jumped intoLegend says thas Jonay jumped into
the sea, in the middle of the night, tothe sea, in the middle of the night, to
swim to his beloved…swim to his beloved…
Two inflated bladders of animal, tiedTwo inflated bladders of animal, tied
to his waist, helped him to float whento his waist, helped him to float when
his forces were exhausted.his forces were exhausted.

18. With the first lights of dawn heWith the first lights of dawn he
reached his destination and, furtively,reached his destination and, furtively,
went in search of his beloved…went in search of his beloved…
When they met, they embracedWhen they met, they embraced
passionately and escaped through thepassionately and escaped through the
mounts of La Gomera.mounts of La Gomera.
In El Cedro, were given to love…In El Cedro, were given to love…

19. When Gara's father learned of thisWhen Gara's father learned of this
fact he stormed after them, and asfact he stormed after them, and as
young people were rounded up, theyyoung people were rounded up, they
took the only possible way out...took the only possible way out...

20. A sharp cedar rod, placed betweenA sharp cedar rod, placed between
them, was their mortal ally...them, was their mortal ally...

21. And looking into each other eyes, theyAnd looking into each other eyes, they
were melted in an eternal embrace,were melted in an eternal embrace,
which pierced their hearts, leavingwhich pierced their hearts, leaving
them united forever ...them united forever ...

22. And together, they fell down into theAnd together, they fell down into the
void of the beautiful laurel forest,void of the beautiful laurel forest,
which has -since then- taken the namewhich has -since then- taken the name
of…of…
National Park of GARAJONAYNational Park of GARAJONAY
M.F. SerafínM.F. Serafín