The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-09-12
ODD MOUNTAIN RACE.
Tennessee People Who Claim Portp
guegc Descent.

SCG W0QtN fttlN THANEs
Tennessee People Who Claim Portu-
guesc Descent.
The most peculiar people among the
mOuntaineers OF Tennessee are the
Malungeons. They are copper colored,
with high cheek bones, straight noses,
black hair, rather coarse, black eyes,
and have more intelligence than the
ordinary mountaineers.
Their color and their customs have
caused them a great deal OF trouble.
The MalungeOns number between 400
and 600. They live on Black Kater
creek, In Hancock county, and they
have heen in that section more than
100 years The records Of Hancock
county show that their ancestors came
to POwelrs valley as early as 1850,
when they took up lands on Black
Water. Tradition says they held aloof
from the white settlers and spoke a
strange language, which none Of the
pioneers understood. Some Of them
could speak broken English, and by
this means communicated with the
white merchants to the extent Of buy
Ing arms and ammunition and other
supplies which they could not procure
In the valleys of their mountain homes.
Before the war the Malungeons had
hard time In obtaining the right to
vote and to send their children to the
public schools. The white citizens de-
clared that they were negroes, and the
matter was finally carried into the
courts. It developed that the ancestors
Of these people emigrated to America
about 100 years ago from the interior
Of Portugal, and had spent some time
In South Carolina before going to Ten
nessee. They declared ON the witness
stand that there was not drop Of
negro blood in their veins. and after
long and tedious litigation they were
allowed to vote and send their children
to school,
When the war broke out In 1861, the
Mclungeons espoused the cause Of the
Union. After the war closed and the
Malungeons returned to their old pur.
suits they found that the government
was interfering with one Of their chief
Notwithstanding whisky. They had
been dlstlllers back in South Carolina,
and some Of the earliest stills in Ten
nessee were brought by their ancestors
over the mountains sTo;:. their original
settlement. They killed revenue Off
GERS. just as the other mountaineers
did, for disturbing their stills. OF late
years, however, the revenue men have
been so persistent in the work Of de.
stroying the Illicit traffic that the Ma.
dungeons have sold but little whisky
openly. They still make moonshine
whisky, but they have adopted the art
ful, lodging tactics Of the other moon.
sinners Of the Tennessee and Kentucky
mountains, and 1t Is rare that one OF
the race is caught. So far as known
not one Of the Nfalungeons has ever
! ridden on train.
Their deep, religious nature is the
most striking Of all their characteris
! tics. During their meetings they will
sing and shout until almost beside
themselves with religious fervor. One
Of the patriarchs Of the Malungeons
was Uncle Ward Collins. Many years
ago q noted church bishop was travel
ing through the Black Water district
He accidentally came to Uncle Wards
house and asked to stay overnight
with him, O privilege readily granted
| When he told the old man he was q
preacher. the patriarch said he would
like to hear him preach. The bishop
inquired where the congregation would
come from. For answer his host tool
, g long dinner horn from Its rack and
going outdoors, blew several shril
blasts. Within an hour 100 people had
assembled and showed great interesI
In the sermon. .-~ aI -
The Malungeons were Wings before
the war, and since then have voted the
Republican ticket. Their customs have
not changed In 200 yealN. They stil
live In one roomed log caEtrs ami use
the old fashioned. long barreled rite
which hangs over every door. They
are warm hearted and hospitable. and
it is claimed. make the purest noun
tain brandy to be found. The family
names are Gibson, Mullins, Collins
Wilkins and few others.-Special Cor
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