_Asparago_,[7] “asparagus” (a gendarme who has been tricked—“a stiff”). _Si accolla_, “he sticks to it” (he shoulders the others’ crime). In all there are said to be about five thousand words in the Camorrist vocabulary; but a large number of these are simply Neapolitan slang, for inventing which every Neapolitan has a gift. No more interesting example of this slang has ever come to light than in the secret diary of Tobia Basile (nicknamed “Scarpia Leggia”) who, after serving thirty years in prison, returned to the haunts of men to teach the _picciotti_ the forms and ceremonies of the society and to instruct them in its secret language. This strange old man, more literate than most Camorrists, kept a diary in the ancient symbolism of the brotherhood. Having become bored by his wife he murdered her, walled her body up in the kitchen, and recorded what he had done, thus: May 1, “The violets are out.” May 7, “Water to the beans.” June 11, “I have pruned my garden.” Aug. 10, “How beautiful is the sun.” Sept. 12, “So many fine sheep are passing.” Time passed, and a contractor, rebuilding the wall, came upon the corpse. Tobia denied his guilt, but his diary was found, as well as a Camorrist translator. “Water to the beans.” That beautiful metaphor was shown to mean naught else but “I have killed and buried her!” And in the face of his own diary Tobia admitted the accuracy of his record. “Water to the beans!” The first grade of aspirants to the Camorra was that of the _garzone di mala vita_, or “apprentice,” who was practically a servant, errand-boy, or valet for his masters or sponsors, and was known as a _giovine onorato_, or honored youth. The second grade was that of the _picciotti sgarro_, or novice, originally difficult of attainment and often requiring from six to ten years of service. The third or final stage was that of the _capo paranza_, head of a local gang, or “district leader.” The society was divided into twelve centres, corresponding to the twelve quarters of the city of Naples, each centre being, in turn, subdivided into _paranze_ and having a separate or individual purse. The chief of each _paranza_ was elected, and was the strongest or boldest man in the gang. In earlier days he combined the office of president, which carried with it only the limited authority to call meetings, with that of cashier, which involved the advantage of being able to divide the _camorra_, or proceeds of crime. The leader was entitled himself to the _sbruffo_, a percentage due by “right of camorra”; and this percentage belongs to-day in every case to the Camorrist who has planned or directed the particular crime involved. The leaders of the twelve divisions met, just as they occasionally do _now_, to discuss affairs of vital importance, but in most matters the individual sections were autonomous. According to the confession of an old Camorrist, the lowest grade of the society was attained by the following rite: