At the beginning of the conquest, the Indians thought the Spanish were immortals and they patiently tolerated their outrages. After a few years, Chief Urayoán decided to see if it was true that the Spanish would not die. He ordered his men to attempt to drown a Spaniard. These Indians had the opportunity to carry out this order when a young Spaniard, by the name of Diego Salcedo, asked them to carry him across the Guaorabo river (Añasco) so that he would not get wet. The Indians picked him up but, on reaching the middle of the river, they let him fall and held him under the water. Then they took him to the river bank and, full of fear, watched him for several days until they were sure that he was dead. Once convinced that the Spanish were mortals like themselves, the Indians began to fight them.
The History of the Indians
Ricardo E. Alegría, 1969