Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-06-15

great deal more in the island in which
they flourish.
For many years twas believed there
that the nanigos were q kind of Ku
klux Society, whose members were
banded together for the purpose of in.
juring their white neighbors. What
gave rise to this belief, and for long
time supported it, was the circum-
stance that all the nanigos were col
ored men, but for more than thirty
years past white men have been asso-
ciated with them. From documents
discovered by the police, and seen by
the writer of this article, it appears
that in 1865, when,General Dulce gov
erned the island, White Lodge (Juego
de Blancos) number two was founded.
Whence it is deducted that lodge num-
Der one was already in existence.
Nor are these societies political as
sociations devoted to a common end.
In the separatist conspiracies the mani
gos took no part as body. There
were separatist nanlgos, as there were
nanigos who were loyal to Spain, and
there are nanigos of Spanish birth.
That the nanlgos have pursued no
common political Or religious aim there
is incontestable proof, which is that
each lodge is absolutely separate from
and independent of every other. There
is no hierarchy, no species of grand
lodge or centre Of action and govern
ment. Not only are the lodges not
| friendly, but they are frequently hos
tile to one another. In Havana, when
it is known that there has been q mid
night brawl in some out-of-the-way
quarter, some one will be sure to say,
"that is because the Ecori Opo Lodge
has declared war upon the Eyion
Lodge"
Nor is it even certain that these so.
cieties are recruited exclusively from
the criminal classes. The nanigos
are not, indeed, models of propriety
but not all, or even the greater number,
are professional thieves, or gamblers,
or assassins, or men without settled
occupation. There are nanigos who
follow trade, and many of them are
cooks. BARRIERS, bag-makers and
/ butchers. There have also been in
! stances of young men of the upper
classes who, from curiosity or a spirit
of adventure, or from that morbit
tendency which leads certain men O.
culture to seek associates among the
scum of society, have joined the
lodges of the nanigos.
There is one trait common to all
the nanigos-they are ostentatiously
courageous. To be member of the
society is to be accredited bray,
man, The reputation, deserved O
not, of courage, gives prestige among
the women of the lowest class, ant
credit among the men of the populace
Where no one is anyone, to come tt
be nanigo is to be someone.
But what was the origin of this in
stitution? We're its founders tn,
guapcs--that is, the men of strength
and brutality, in the lower classes
or the criminals? Neither the on,
nor the other, for it is thought tina
the first nanigos were Africans; slaves
some, others free, who banded togeth
er to practice the idolatrous rites the,
had brought from Africa.
What tends in some degree tt
strengthen this opinion is the African
character of some of the ceremonie!
and Of the vocabulary in use among
the nanigos. 1t is said that they sac
ritice black hens, stripped OF theil
feathers, and that in the places where
they hold their meetings there is
log called the Palos Mecongo, whicl
is for them what the altar is fo1
others. This is what is said, but III
one who is not q nanigo can declare
positively that he has seen all this
or that he has any certain knowledge
of their ceremonies. The nanigo!
have never been brought to public
trial in Cuba, nor has this curious in
stitution ever been thoroughly stud
led. Nanigos have been tried by thu
summary methods the police courts
but the declarations drawn from then
by torture or threats have thrown bu
little light upon them. Not even TIT
origin OF the word nanigo is known
Some hold it to lie purely African
others Cuban; others say that it il
rican-Portuguese.
L HC HthISOS l-SHS HCL u Gum lJltl'
vocabulary Of slang, like the argot o
the French, c" the Gallo of the Spanisl
criminal classes. They use, it may
be, a limited number of words having
double meaning, but still Spanisl
words. Their yocabularyis restricted
and also is composed OF strange, bar
barous words that have no connection
with the Spanish language, and thai
have, in all probability, come from th,
Congo or from Guinea; such as, en-
cocoro, ataquenanoue, manfuaniua.
Some os their songs are no less At
rican in character; and there art
among them airs so original, OF sucl
wild force or such plaintlve sweetness
that they would make the reputation
Of a composer of foreign melodies.
What takes place at their cere
monies, what prayers they offer NJ
before the Palo Mecongo, whetbe
this is for them the image of God, o.
OF one of their heroes, or whether it i
mere fetish, are questions whicl
/ l. I Al.