The Taino Indians were the indigenous inhabitants when Juan Ponce de Leon came to San Juan, Puerto in 1508. They spoke a type of Arawak and their word usage was extensive. Many Taino words persist in the Dominican vocabulary of today like those of plants and trees. Ponce de Leon came to Puerto Rico with a interpreter named Juan Gonzalez; who was also his first cousin and painted like an Indian. He was very well received by the Tainos. Ponce de Leon and his men were aware that the Taino Indians had communication with each other and were careful not to cause them to be enemies at first. Juan Gonzalez was able to communicate with Agueybana which developed a pact between Ponce de Leon and Agueybaná. They agreed that if Ponce de León helped in fighting against the Carib Indians then he could select a spot on the island to build his frontier. Ponce de León selected Caparra, which is now San Juan. The first repartimiento in Puerto Rico took place in 1509. By the terms of the agreement, the Spaniards were obliged to pay the Indians for their labor and to teach them the Christian religion. Ponce de Leon first had Juan Gonzalez lead a group of men overland to what is now San Juan. At first Juan Ponce de Leon came in peace to cooperate with the Taino Indians but eventually lead to forced enslavement and labor that later made them essentially extinct. Some people believe that Juan Ponce de Leon conquered Puerto Rico with force and treated the Taino Indians horribly but others say he was of the few that actually was decent to them and treated them humanely. Well I guess the only ones that know the truth is Ponce de Leon and the Taino Indians...



Sources:

-Greenberger, R. "Juan Ponce de Leon. " The Rosen Publishing Group. (2003).
-Puerto Rican Reconstruction Adminstration. "History," from Puerto Rico: A Guide to the Island of Boriquen. " American Guide Series. The University Society, Inc. New York. (1940).
- Vazquez, D. "Spain in Puerto Rico: The Early Settlements. " Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. (2003).
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1986/2/86.02.01.x.html

Taino Language:
"Our Father" in Taíno:
Guakia baba (Our Father)
turey toca (is in sky)
guami-ke-ni (Lord of land and water)
guami-caraya-guey (Lord of moon and sun)
guariko (come to)
guakia (us)
tayno-ti (good,tall)
bo-matun; (big,generous)
busica (give to )
guakia (us)
aje-cazabi; (tubercles,bread)
juracan-na (bad spirit,no)
maboya-ua (ghost,no)
jukiyu-jan; (good spirit,yes)
Diosa (of God)
nabori daca ( servant am I)
Jan-jan catu (So be it)
[from Prehistoria de Puerto Rico, Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste]
http://prboriken.com/taino.htm