CAMOR'RA, the name of a secret society, existing throughout all parts of the former kingdom of Naples, the members of which are called camorristi, and have exer cised lawless force to a great extent over the humbler classes of society. Under the Bourbons, they openly presented themselves at markets, hackney-coach stations, public spectacles, and all occasions of popular amusement; assumed the right of deciding dis putes; extorted a portion of whatever money passed from hand to hand for purchases, rents, wages, and the like, or in games; undertook also the transport of smuggled goods, and contracted for the commission of serious crimes. Their readiness for vio lence and murder, and their close association among themselves, made them so much dreaded, that even camorristi who had been thrown into prison, succeeded in exacting money from their fellow-prisoners, and from the jailer himself. The society has a cen tral rendezvous in every large provincial town, and twelve such in the city of Naples. Those who belong to each of these sections of .the society are under the absolute gov ernment of a chief elected by themselves, with whom is associated a treasurer. The latter has the charge of the common fund into which all the camorristi of that section pay their whole gains, for equal distribution among all their associates. Candidates for membership must show that they have neither been guilty of espionage nor theft; also, that neither their wives nor their sisters are prostitutes; and must swear upon an iron crucifix a fearful oath of fidelity and secrecy. The candidate remains for a year, with the designation of picciotto d'onore, as a pupil under an old camorrista; and having completed this probation, and given proof of his courage and obedience in circum stances involving danger of life, he is advanced to the rank of a picciotto di sgarro.
Finally, after a longer period, and when he has given proof of his fitness on a ntunber of occasions, he is admitted to full membership of the society as a camorrista. Each camorrista carries about with him two knives of peculiar form, by which the members of the society recognize each other. They are held under the strictest discipline. Dis obedience is punished by flogging, suspension from employment, or expulsion; treach ery, even on the part of a member who has been expelled, is punished with death. If two camorristi quarrel, their chief decides the question between them; but in difficult cases, a duel with daggers is the mode of decision. Under king Ferdinand II. the C. was tolerated for political reasons. The government of Francis II. endeavored to put down the society, and the police received instructions to seize and transport all known members of it. Those who remained entered into alliance with the Garibaldi com mittee, and rendered essential service in the expulsion of the Bourbons. An attempt was now made to employ them in the police service, but completely failed. The C. having fallen out with the new government, the members of the society now chiefly live by robbery in s. Italy.—See Monnier, La Gomorra, Xotizie Storiche (Flor. 1863).