Page:EB1911 - Volume 19.djvu/176

 of commerce and a branch of the Bank of France. The industries of Nancy include printing, brewing, cotton- and wool-spinning and the weaving of cotton and woollen goods, and the manufacture of tobacco (by the State), of boots and shoes, straw hats, pottery, casks, embroidery, machinery, engineering material, farm implements and iron goods.

At the close of the 11th century Odelric of Nancy, brother of Gerard of Alsace, possessed at Nancy a castle which enabled him to defy the united assaults of the bishops of Metz and Treves and the count of Bar. In the 12th century the town was surrounded with walls, and became the capital of the dukes of Lorraine; but its real importance dates from the 15th century, when on the 5th of January 1477 Charles the Bold was defeated by René II. and perished at its gates. Enlarged, embellished and admirably refortified by Charles III., it was taken by the French in 1633 (Louis XIII. and Richelieu being present at the siege). After the peace of Ryswick in 1697 it was restored and Duke Leopold set himself to repair the disasters of the past. He founded academies, established manufactures and set about the construction of the new town. But it was reserved for Stanislas Leczinski, to whom Lorraine and Bar were assigned in 1736, to carry out the plans of improvement in a style which made Nancy one of the palatial cities of Europe, and rendered himself the most popular as he was the last of the dukes of Lorraine. The city, which became French in 1766, was occupied by the allies in 1814 and 1815, and put to ransom by the Prussians in 1870. After the Franco-German War the population was greatly increased by the immigration of Alsatians and of people from Metz and its district.

NANDAIR, or, a town of India, in the state of Hyderabad, on the left bank of the Godaveri, with a station on the Hyderabad-Godaveri valley railway, 174 m. N.E. of Hyderabad city. Pop. (1901) 14,184. It is a centre of local trade, with a special industry of fine muslin and gold bordered scarves. As the scene of the murder of Guru Govind, it contains a shrine visited by Sikhs from all parts of India.

NANDGAON, a feudatory state of India, in the Chhattisgarh division of the Central Provinces. Area, 871 sq. m.; pop. (1901) 126,356, showing a decrease of 31% in the decade, due to famine; estimated revenue £23,000; tribute £4600. The state has a peculiar history. Its foundation is traced to a religious celibate, who came from the Punjab towards the end of the 18th century. From the founder it passed through a succession of chosen disciples until 1879, when the British government recognized the ruler as an hereditary chief and afterwards conferred upon his son the title of Raja Bahadur. The state has long been well administered, and has derived additional prosperity from the construction of the Bengal-Nagpur railway, which has a station at Raj-Nandgaon, the capital (pop. 11,094). Here there is a steam cotton mill.

NANDI, an East African tribe of mixed Nilotic, Bantu and Hamitic origin. With them are more or less closely allied the Lumbwa (correctly Kipsikīs), Buret (or Puret) and Sotik (Soot) tribes, as well as the Elgonyi (properly Kony) of Mount Elgon. They have also affinities with the Masai tribes. The Nandi-Lumbwa peoples inhabit the country stretching south from Mount Elgon to about 1°&#x202f;S. and bounded east by the escarpment of the eastern rift-valley and west by the territory of the tribes, such as the Kavirondo, dwelling round the Victoria Nyanza. They have given their name to the Nandi plateau. The Hamitic strain in these allied tribes is derived from the Galla; they also exhibit Pygmy elements. Their original home was in the north, and they probably did not reach their present home until the beginning of the 19th century. They differ considerably in physical appearance; some resemble the Masai, being men of tall stature with features almost Caucasian, other are dwarfish with markedly negro features. Like the Masai, Turkana and Suk, the Nandi-Lumbwa tribes were originally nomadic, but they have become agriculturists. They own large herds of cattle. They have a double administrative system, the chief medicine man or Orkoiyot being supreme chief and regulating war affairs, while representatives of the people, called Kiruogik, manage the ordinary affairs of the tribe. The medicine men are of Masai origin and the office is hereditary. The young men form a separate warrior class to whom is entrusted the care of the country. A period of about 7 years is spent in this class, and the ceremony of handing over the country from one “age” to the succeeding “age” is of great importance. The arms of the warriors are a stabbing spear, shield, sword and club. Many also possess rifles. All the Nandi are divided into clans, each having its sacred animal or totem. They have no towns, each family living on the land it cultivates. The huts are of circular pattern. The Nandi believe in a supreme deity—Asis—who takes a benevolent interest in their welfare, and to whom prayers are addressed daily. They also worship ancestors and consider earthquakes to be caused by the spirits moving in the underworld. They practise circumcision, and girls undergo a similar operation. Spitting is a sign of blessing. Their scanty clothing consists chiefly of dressed skins. The tribal mark is a small hole bored in the upper part of the ear. Their language is Nilotic and in general construction resembles the Masai. It has been slightly influenced by the Somali tongue. The primitive hunting tribe known as the Wandorobo speak a dialect closely resembling Nandi.

The Nandi at one time appear to have been subject to the Masai, but when the country was first known to Europeans they were independent and occupied the plateau which bears their name. Hardy mountaineers and skilful warriors, they closed their territory to all who did not get special permission, and thus blocked the road from Mombasa to Uganda alike to Arab and Swahili. Caravans that escaped the Masai frequently fell victims to the Nandi, who were adepts at luring them to destruction. When the railway to the Victoria Nyanza was built it had to cross the Nandi country. The tribesmen, who had already shown hostility to the whites, attacked both the railway and the telegraph line and raided other tribes. Eventually (1905–1906) the Nandi were removed by the British to reserves somewhat north of the railway zone (see ). The Lumbwa reserve lies south of the railway, and farther south still are the reserves of the Buret and Sotik.

NANDIDRUG, a hill fortress of southern India, in the Kolar district of Mysore, 4851 ft. above the sea. It was traditionally held impregnable, and its storming by Lord Cornwallis in 1791 was one of the most notable incidents of the first war against Tippoo Sultan. It was formerly a favourite resort for British officials during the hot season.

NANGA, the most primitive form of the ancient Egyptian harp. The nanga consisted of a boat-shaped or vaulted body of Wood, the back of which was divided down the centre by a sound bar built into the back; on this bar was fixed a cylindrical stick round which one end of the strings was wound, the soundboard or parchment being stretched over the back without interfering with the stick. The other end of the strings was fastened to pegs set in the side of a curved neck, so that the strings did not lie directly over the soundboard. There were but 3 or 4 strings. one note only being obtained from each. Some of these nangas are to be seen at the British Museum.

NANKEEN, a cotton cloth originally made in China, and now imitated in various countries. The name is derived from Nanking, the city in which the cloth is said to have been originally manufactured. The characteristic yellowish colour of nankeen is attributed to the peculiar colour of the cotton from which it was originally made.