The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-06-06


societies, about whose character and
aims little is known here, and not a
great deal more in the island in which
they flourish.
For many years it was believed there
that the nauigos were a kind OF hu
K!ux Society, whose members were
banded together for the purpose Of IN
turing their white neighbors. What
gave rise to this bslief, AID 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 1855, whea.General Dulce gov
erned the island, White Lodge (Juego
de Blancosl 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 common end.
In the separatist conspiracies the mani
sos took no part as body. There
were ssparatist 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 ere frequently nos
tile to one another. InHavana, when
it is known that there has been 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 Evion
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 al, or even the greater number,
are professional thieves, or gamblers.
OF assassirs, 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
81 asss ssssszsHsar5; sa Ssaa eEsias5i1 e sRE
tendency which leads certain men Of
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 a member Of the
society is to be accredited brave
man. The reputation, deserved or
not, of courage, gives prestige among
the women Of the lowest class, and
credit among the men Of the populace.
Where 10 one is anyone, to come to
be nanigo is to be someone.
But what was the origin of this in
stitution? Were it's founders the
guapos-that is, the men OF strength
and brutality, in the lower classes
or the criminals? Neither the one
nor thes other, for it is thought that
the frstnanigos were Africans; slaves
some, others free, who banded togeth-
er to practice the idolatrous rites they
had brought from Africa.
What tends in some degree to
strengthen this opinion IS the African
character of some Of the ceremonies
and of the vocabulary in use among
the nanigos. It is said that they sac
rifce black hens, stripped Of their
. feathers, and that in the places where
they hold their. meetings there is a
log called the Palos Mecongo, which
is for them what the altar is for
others. This is what is said, but no
: one who is not a nanigo can declare
positively that he has seen all this,
or that he has any certain knowledge
of their ceremonies. The nanigos
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 the
summary methods ofthe police courts,
bat the declarations drawn from them
by torture or threats have thrown but
little light upon them. Not even the
origin Of the word nanigo is known.
Some hold it to he purely African,
others Cuban; others say that it is
.African-Portuguese.
The nanigos have not complete
vocabulary of slang, like the argot Of
the French, or the calo of the Spanish
criminal classes. They use, it may
be, limited number Of words having
double meaning, but still Spanish
words. Their vocabularyis restricted,
and also is composed Of strange, bar
barcuts words that have no connection
with The Spanish language, and that
have, IN all probability, come from the
Congo or from Guinea; such as, en-
eocoro, ataquenanoue, manfuanfua.
Some os their songs are no less AZ
tican in character; and there are
among them airs so original, Of such
Wild force or such plsint1ve sweetness,
that they would make the reputation
OF q composer OF foreign melodies.
What takes place at their cere-
monies, what prayers they offer up
before the Palo Necongo, whether
this is for them the image of God, or
Of one Of their heroes, or whether it is
a mere fetish, are questions which
cannot be answered any more than
one cen explain the fact that many
nanigos profess religion, Or the spe-
cies of mental halucination which
leads Europeans and descendants OF
Eu- opeans, brought up in the faith,
TO take up African idolatry. Re-
garding these point nothing positive