It´s said that there were seven It´s said that there were seven places from where magic water places from where magic water

emanated, and whose origin no one emanated, and whose origin no one knew in La Gomera.knew in La Gomera.

These seven streams, apart from These seven streams, apart from giving virtues to those who drank from giving virtues to those who drank from

them, let them know, when looking them, let them know, when looking into their waters, if they were dating into their waters, if they were dating

or not.or not.

If water was clear, love would come, If water was clear, love would come, but if it was turbid, there was not a but if it was turbid, there was not a

moment to wait.moment to wait.

Beñesmén festivities were Beñesmén festivities were approaching, the most important one approaching, the most important one

of that time, so a group of young of that time, so a group of young women came to the Epina streams to women came to the Epina streams to

look themselves on its waters. look themselves on its waters.

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

She leaned out, and at first, a quiet She leaned out, and at first, a quiet and perfect image was displayed, but and perfect image was displayed, but then shadows emerged and it began then shadows emerged and it began to stir, until suddenly, a burning sun to stir, until suddenly, a burning sun

dazzled all her beauty.dazzled all her beauty.

On hearing that, Gerián, the sage of On hearing that, Gerián, the sage of the place, made her a warning:the place, made her a warning:

- What must happen, will happen. - What must happen, will happen. Escape from fire Gara, or fire shall Escape from fire Gara, or fire shall

consume you.consume you.Gara kept silent, but the sad omen ran Gara kept silent, but the sad omen ran

from mouth to mouth.from mouth to mouth.

On the eve of the festivities, Menceyes On the eve of the festivities, Menceyes and other noblemen came from and other noblemen came from

Tenerife. The Mencey of Adeje was Tenerife. The Mencey of Adeje was accompanied by his son, Jonay, a accompanied by his son, Jonay, a strong and handsome young man.strong and handsome young man.

Gara couldn´t stop watching him, and Gara couldn´t stop watching him, and as their eyes met, love hopelessly as their eyes met, love hopelessly

caught them.caught them.

Shortly after, even at festivities, their Shortly after, even at festivities, their commitment was public. But when the commitment was public. But when the

happy news was spread… happy news was spread…

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.

They remembered then the omen They remembered then the omen given to the innocent Gara…given to the innocent Gara…

Gara, the Princess of Agulo, the water Gara, the Princess of Agulo, the water place; Jonay, pure fire, from the island place; Jonay, pure fire, from the island

of hell ... That love was impossible of hell ... That love was impossible then ... Great evils were coming if not then ... Great evils were coming if not

separated.separated.

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

Once the volcano was subsided, and Once the volcano was subsided, and the festivities concluded, all visitors the festivities concluded, all visitors

returned to Tenerife, but one left with returned to Tenerife, but one left with an empty soul ...an empty soul ...

Legend says thas Jonay jumped into Legend says thas Jonay jumped into the sea, in the middle of the night, to the sea, in the middle of the night, to

swim to his beloved…swim to his beloved…Two inflated bladders of animal, tied Two inflated bladders of animal, tied to his waist, helped him to float when to his waist, helped him to float when

his forces were exhausted.his forces were exhausted.

With the first lights of dawn he With 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 embraced When they met, they embraced

passionately and escaped through the passionately 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…

When Gara's father learned of this When Gara's father learned of this fact he stormed after them, and as fact he stormed after them, and as

young people were rounded up, they young people were rounded up, they took the only possible way out...took the only possible way out...

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

And looking into each other eyes, they And looking into each other eyes, they were melted in an eternal embrace, were melted in an eternal embrace, which pierced their hearts, leaving which pierced their hearts, leaving

them united forever ... them united forever ...

And together, they fell down into the And together, they fell down into the void of the beautiful laurel forest, void of the beautiful laurel forest,

which has -since then- taken the name which has -since then- taken the name of…of…

National Park of GARAJONAYNational Park of GARAJONAY

M.F. SerafínM.F. Serafín