Book on Palo [Palo Monte – as practiced at Guanabacoa, a suburb of Havana (p. 1)] [originally from Angola (p. 3)] {this is apparently from northern Angola, inasmuch as Umbanda is praevalent instead amongst the Ambanda of southern Angola}

chapters

#

title

pp.

1st

What is Palo Monte?

3-15

2nd

Making C^amba

25-8

4th

Making a Cauldron

35-43

5th

Deities

45-69

7th

Spells & Firmas

77-94

8th

Baths, Spells, Works

95-109

9th

Prayers

111-25

10th

Vocabulary

127-43

p. 1 the 4 branches of Palo

Briyumba, Monte, Mayombe, Kimbisa

pp. 12-13 Spanish versions of Palo-Monte deity-names; Yoruba deity-names sometimes used in substitute of them

p.

Palo-Monte

Spanish

Yoruba

12

nkisi-s

 

oris^a-s

 

Nsambi Mpungu

 

Olodumare

 

Nkuyo

Lucero (‘Light-maker’)

Es^u / Elegbara

 

Mama Kenge

Tiembla-Tierra (‘Earthquake’)

Os^anla`

 

Nsasi

Siete Rayos (‘7 Rays’)

S^ano`

 

Kalunga / Balaunde

Madre de Agua (‘Mother of Water’)

Yemaya`

 

Mama S^ola

 

Os^u`n

 

Kubayende

Pata en Llaga (‘Sore on Leg’)

Babalu`-Aye`

 

Zarabanda

 

Ogu`n

 

Mariwanga

Centella (‘Flash’)

Oya`

 

Watariamba

Vence Batallas (‘Win Battles’), Busca Rastros (‘Seek Signs’)

Os^osi

13

Daday

Cuatro Vientos (‘4 Winds’)

Orunmila

 

Musilango

 

Oris^a-Oko

 

Burufinda / Nurufinda

 

Osanyin

 

Mama Canata

 

Nana Bukuu

   

Brazo Fuerte (‘Arm Strong’)

Aganju

p. 27 the # of herbs which are used to feed each deity

deity

#

Lucero

3 or 21 or 101

Tiembla-Tierra

8

Siete Rayos

6

Centella

9

Madre de Agua

7

Mama S^ola

5

Zarabanda

3 or 7

Pata en Llaga

17

pp. 27-28 herbs belonging to each deity

p.

deity

herbs

27

Lucero

wheatgrass, asafoetida, basil

 

Tiembla-Tierra

lilies, almond, soursop

 

Siete Rayos & Brazo Fuerte

plantain, banana, china berry

28

Madre de Agua

vervain, indigo, watercress

 

Zarabanda

lemongrass, mimosa, jericho flower

 

Centella

yucca, plum, mazorquilla

 

Pata de Llaga

cundiamor, sargazo, zazafra

pp. 31-32 functions of the Iroko (Kapok) tree

p.

its __

is __

31

shadow

reposing-place for spirits

 

roots

home of Mama Ungungu

 

soil around it

offering to Brazo Fuerte

 

tea from leaves

"will open a neophyte’s third eye"

32

wood hung with red ribbon

"by a baby’s crib will protect her from the evil eye."

p. 32 "Other talismans against the evil eye that work are a piece of jet (azabache), a piece of red coral, or a dog’s tooth."

pp. 36-39 contents of a prenda (cauldron)

p. 36

"otan (stone)" : "These dark, flat, elongated stones are pointed on one end and have white streaks running through them. They are sacred to Siete Rayos."

p. 37

"with animal skulls, rams’ horns, machetes and sticks."

p. 38

There will be "some rumbling sounds which will indicate that the spirit of the dead body buried under the chosen grave is eager to work with them. The grave is then dug up and the kiyumba (skull), fingers, toes, tibias, and ribs are removed from the cadaver".

p. 39

"a hollowed piece of bamboo ... filled with mercury ... sealed inside with beeswax;

the remains of a small black male dog which will serve as the nfumbi’s pet and messenger,

dirt from an anthill,

the necessary twenty-one foundation sticks ...,

termites,

a dead bat,

spiders,

lizards,

a centipede,

a toad,

cinnamon,

chili peppers".

p. 40 contents of a boumba (also called sacu-sacu, or macuto = a burlap bag) [not used in Palo Monte]

"the heads, legs, and hearts from the following animals : ...

a cat,

an opossum ...,

a black goat,

a sparrow,

an owl, ...

a vulture,

a woodpecker,

a blackbird, and

a parrot.

Plus the remains of

a snake, ...

a scorpion, ...

a wasp,

a dragonfly,

red ants, ... and

caterpillars."

p. 41 For this boumba, Simbi is invoked.

p. 42 The boumba is used in Mayombe.

pp. 46-47 ingredients of the "secret powder that gives to" Nurufinda / Burufinda – this powder being kept "inside an antler"

p.

ingredient

46

the feet of :

a tortoise,

47

a small parrot.

 

the remains of :

a macaw,

a turtledove.

 

eyen & tongue of a rooster.

 

7 each of :

large emmets,

mate seeds.

p. 49 #s of animals favoring one’s initiator

4 elephants,

10 vultures,

17 hyaenas

pp. 50-61 the 21 paths of Elufe (Lucero)

pp. 50-51 names of the paths

pp. 52-61 functions of the diagrams

p.

#

name

p.

#

function

50

1.

Kunanmembe "He who is as well good as bad."

51

1.

versatile

 

2.

Prima "at dawn or dusk."

52

2.

"a bottle and keep an evil soul trapped there."

 

3.

Ndaya "Lord of the Underworld."

 

3.

"to protect a dwelling."

 

4.

Pitilanga "Lord of the Seashore."

53

4.

"at nightfall ... feed the sign an old black hen."

 

5.

Madruga "Lord of the Wee Hours of the Morning."

 

5.

"invoking the spirits of dead tatas."

 

6.

Aprueba-fuerza "Lord of the Rails."

54

6.

"invoking Zarabanda."

51

7.

Vence Guerra "Winner of Battles."

 

7.

"to win any battle."

 

8.

Vira-Mundo "World-turner."

55

8.

"to break any spell."

 

9.

Monteoscuro "Lord of the Dark Mountains"

 

9.

"when ready to engage in a dangerous battle."

 

10.

Busca Buya ("lives as the police station.")

56

10.

"Keeps the police away."

 

11.

Mundo Nuevo ("protects prisoners.")

 

11.

"Use to get someone out of prison."

 

12.

Rompe Monte "terra-cotta roof tile."

57

12.

"feed to a snake and ask that it turns {turn} someone crazy."

 

13.

Sabicunanguasa ("lives at the river’s edge and eats black hens.")

 

13.

"Kill him a black hen at the bank of a river".

 

14.

Talatarde "Lord of Pestilence."

58

14.

"Place nine different herbs in a bottle of Chamba."

 

15.

Katilemba ("Kubayende’s sidekick.")

 

15.

 
 

16.

Casco Duro "of the lakes."

59

16.

"Sacrifice a chicken ... by a lake".

 

17.

Tronco Malva "Lord of the Four Cardinal Points."

 

17.

"To protect and defend".

 

18.

Pata Sueno "Lord of the Crossroads."

60

18.

"embarking on a trip".

 

19.

Jaguey Grande "Lord of the Mountain."

 

19.

"to invoke the spirits of the forest."

 

20.

Kabankiriyo "Lord of Darkness."

61

20.

"to attack enemies."

 

21.

Siete Puertas "Lord of the Underdog."

 

21.

"at the gates of the cemetery."

general features of diagrams (in Palo Monte)

basic arrow is pointed upwards;

basic wave (actually a directed wave) is pointed from lower left to upper right;

if horizontal, arrows point (when not alternating) to the right.

Alternating small crossed and small Os are used decoratively {much as asterisks are employed in Lukumi`}.

pp. 52-61 descriptions of the firmas (diagrams) of the 21 paths of Elufe

p.

#

diagram

51

1.

circle upon crossed arrows

52

2.

arrow crossed by complex wave and by 4 cross-circles

 

3.

same as #1, with dots (4) at intersections

53

4.

upon partitioned-based stand : trident crossed by arrow – verticals are crossed by 4 lines above and by 3 lines below; horizontals are crossed on each side by set of 4 downward-pointing arrows

 

5.

arrow crossed by wave and by 4 slanting arrows

54

6.

arrow crossed by : X; 2 cross-circles; 4 arrows

 

7.

similar to #4, except that horizontals are crossed on each side by set of 3 lines

55

8.

arrow crossed by : wave; 2 arrows; arrow-X

 

9.

3-nocked arrow crossed by : 3-nocked wave; 3 arrows; 3-nocked arrow; arrow; arrow-X

56

10.

arrow crossed by : line; 8-sectioned circle; wave; line crossed at each end; partitioned line

 

11.

arrow crossed by : concentric cross-circles (with X between them); 3 curves (with 2 circles); line; wave crossing arrow crossed by 6 alternating arrows; cross-circle

57

12.

arrow crossed by : cross-circle; wave crossed by 7 arrows

 

13.

arrow crossed by : 7 lines; self-crossing wave crossed by 7 long lines (at wave self-crossing) and by 7 short lines (at non-self-crossing part of wave)

58

14.

arrow crossed by wave and by 4 slanting lines

 

15.

6 vertical lines crossed by 7 alternating arrows

59

16.

3-nocked arrow surmounted by rayed disk, and crossed by : semicircle with star & crescent; wave upon line upon circle

 

17.

weapon having trident at each end : crossed by double-arrow and by cross-circle

60

18.

trident crossed by : line; circle upon slanted cross having wave; wave crossed by 9 alternating arrows

 

19.

3-foliaged-above downward-pointing trident, crossed by : 2 cross-circles; partitioned triangle

61

20.

pinwheel upon wave

 

21.

8 directions, with a slanting directional crossed by complex wave; vertical semicircle enclosing sun, jolly-roger, moon, and 6-pointed as well as 5-pointed star

each of these hath 21 dots : #4, #5, #7, #8, #11, #18; #19; #21 (for #19, the dots are along circles; for the others, the dots are along the wave)

pp. 49-50, 62-64 attributes of the deities

pp.

49-50

62

62-3

64

deity

Tata Nkuyu

Kenge

Nsasi

Mama Kalunga

colors

49 red & black

white

62 red & white

blue & clear

fruits

guava

soursop

red banana

watermelon

herb

pasture

jasmine

palm frond

seaweed

mineral

jet

marble

63 flint

aquamarine

condiment

50 palm oil

cocoa butter

palm oil

molasses

wood

abre-camino

silk-cotton

palm

bamboo

numbers

3; 21

8; 24

4; 6

7; 12

pp. 64-69 attributes of the deities

pp.

64-5

66-7

68

69

deity

S^ola Wange

Zarabanda

Kubayende

Mariwanga

colors

64 yellow & amber

66 green & black

purple; brown

(all)

fruits

cantaloupe

plantain

dates; raisins

papaya

herb

chamomile

lemongrass

escoba amarga

caimitillo

mineral

65 amber

iron

quartz

bronze

condiment

honey

67 black pepper

sesame seeds

eggplant

wood

cinnamon

algarrobo

arbol del sebo

guara

numbers

5

3; 7

11; 13

9

pp. 62-69 some other features of the deities

p.

deity

feature

62

Nsasi

"lives on the top of the extremely tall royal palm trees."

64

Mama Kalunga

"wife of Brazo Fuerte".

65

Zarabanda

"A small black dog must be sacrificed, his skull being kept forever in the cauldron." {cf. the hounds immolated to Enualios}

"The following sticks are indispensable to Zarabanda :

palo hueso, palo jiqui, quiebra hacha, malambo, and palo yaya."

68

Kubayende

"the devotee to dress in burlap ... for one day per month, usually on the 17th."

68-9

Mariwanga

"wife of Siete Rayos." (p. 68)

"she rules ... over lightning, ... as ruler of the wind." (. 69)

pp. 80-85 intricate firmas

p.

purpose

firma

where drawn

80

to help inmate achieve freedom

8-direction ring, containing line crossing 3 lines

cedar wood

81

to empower a house

slanted cross, its 4 arms having : cross & wave; wave; cross-circle; lozenge of 6 * 4 lozenges

in front of the main cauldron

82

to obtain material wealth

2 curved arrows mutually double-crossing; circle containing 7 arrows; interior circle containing arrow

 

83

to exorcise evil spirits

crescent; 2 8-rayed circles; 3-footed arrow, on circle containing wave; crossed arrows, on circle containing wave crossing line; circle containing crossed arrows

on floor in front of cauldron

84

for permanent protection

vertical arrow crossing 7 alternative directional arrows; on circle containing crescent, star, man & woman

nso (temple)

85

to make one’s self invisible to the police

2 curved arrows mutually double-crossing, crossed by 7 arrows; arrow upon circle containing arrow crossing line; 2 curved arrows mutually double-crossing, crossed nigh extremities by 2 arrows, with circle around centre of the double-crossing curved arrows

parchment to be carried with one’s self at all times

pp. 86-90 firmas depicting nkisi-s (deities)

p.

nkisi

firma

86

Tiembla Terra

on stand : curved line crossed by 2 lines

 

Zarabanda

circle containing cross

87

Pata en Llaga

on 2 crutches : arrow crossing arrow

 

Centella Ndoki

circle upheld; whirl; comb

 

Mama C^ola

slanted line across cross

88

Nurufinda

circle containing : tree; arrow with curve; line with 2 curves, upon circle

 

Nfuiri

arrow crossed by : line upon circle; X; triangle; line upon circle; wave enclosing lines

89

Balaunde

arrow crossed by : triangle; 7 alternating arrows; 2 complex waves mutually crossing

 

Kalunga

cross upon complex wave crossing circle

 

Lucero

on partitioned-based stand : rayed oval inclosing X; X

90

Mama Kenge

on stand : rayed disk

 

Mama S^ola

crossing anchored arrow : slanted branch across circle

 

Nkuyo

crossing arrow : complex wave upon 3 alternating arrows

pp. 91-94 ideographs

pp. 102-109 simple firmas

p.

purpose

firma

where drawn

food

102-3

to find a lover

arrow within shrine

flat ground

cinnamon

104

to send back evil

8 directions

ground

 

105

for good luck

crossed anchors within shrine

ground

parsley, watercress

108

to make business prosper

pinwheel

behind door of bathroom

starfruit, jutia

109

cleansing

ball

inside cauldron

egg

pp. 117, 118, 119, 120, 121 litany (of deities’ names)

Tiembla Terra

7 Rayos

Madre de Agua

S^olan Genge

Pata en Llaga

Centellita

Zarabanda

Nanga

Palo

Madre Ceiba

Limpia Piso

Sigue Rastro

Mayordomo

Empaca

Cuadrilla

Manzanero

pp. 127-128 "alphabet"

p.

letter

name

127

A

yugo

 

B

yulo

 

C

yili

 

D

salvari

 

E

buo

 

F

came

 

G

nie

 

H

busili

 

I

tituli

 

J

yaluni

 

K

tolada

 

L

bi

128

M

duli

 

N

suli

 

N~

bulu

 

O

bisula

 

P

dilonia

 

Q

simbula

 

R

yolio

 

S

yuriko

 

T

bolva

 

U/V

soyke

 

W

sume

 

X

saulau

 

Y

teuse

 

Z

kintoo

pp. 128-134 glossary of Ki-kongo words

pp. 135-143 Ki-kongo & Lukumi names of plants

Baba Raul Canizares : The Book on Palo. Original Publications, Old Bethpage (NY), 2002.