We pass through this village on the way to Fuente Vaqueros. Chauchina is important in Lorquian geography for being the residence of Luis Cortés Heredia, Luisillo el Camborio, the gypsy prototype for Antonio Torres Heredia "son and grandson of Camborios" in El Romancero Gitano.

Luis's grandfather, Manuel Cortés Cortés, came from Alhendín, a village to the south of Granada, with his two sons, Antonio and Luis. Antonio Manuel Cortés Maya, Luis's father, was a butcher by trade and he married Francisca Heredia Heredia. Luisillo won a reputation on the Vega for "his style of dress, his good manners, and his success with women".

He was a good guitarrist and he taught Lorca's cousin , Mercedes Delgado García, who later taught Lorca. When there was a party, they always called for Luisillo, says Aurelia, another of Lorca's favourite cousins.

He died as a result of a fall from his horse on 11th June 1904, when Lorca was only 6 and still living in Fuente Vaqueros. In his reading of El Romancero Gitano Lorca describes Antoñito (Luisillo) el Camborio as a true gypsy, incapable of evil, "like so many of those who at this moment are dying of hunger because they refuse to sell their ancient traditions to the men who own nothing but money, which is so little".

Muerte de Antoñito el Camborio  Voces de muerte sonaron cerca del Guadalquivir. Voces antiguas que cercan voz de clavel varonil. Les clavó sobre las botas mordiscos de jabalí. En la lucha daba saltos jabonados de delfín. Baño con sangre enemiga su corbata carmesí, pero eran cuatro puñales y tuvo que sucumbir. Cuando las estrellas clavan rejones al agua gris, cuando los erales sueñan verónicas de alhelí, voces de muerte sonaron cerca del Guadalquivir. * Antonio Torres Heredia, Camborio de dura crin, moreno de verde luna, voz de clavel varonil: ¿Quién te ha quitado la vida cerca del Guadalquivir? Mis cuatro primos Heredias hijos de Benamejí. Lo que en otros no envidiaban, ya lo envidiaban en mí. Zapatos color corinto, medallones de marfil, y este cutis amasado con aceituna y jazmín. ¡Ay Antoñito el Camborio, digno de un Emperatriz! Acuérdate de la Virgen porque te vas a morir. ¡Ay Federico García, llama a la Guardia Civil! Ya mi talle se ha quebrado como caña de maíz. * Tres golpes de sangre tuvo y se murió de perfil. Viva moneda que nunca se volverá a repetir. Un ángel marchoso pone su cabeza en un cojín. Otros de rubor cansado, encendieron un candil. Y cuando los cuatro primos llegan a Benamejí, voces de muerte cesaron cerca del Guadalquivir.

Death of Tony Camborio Voices of death resounded beside the Guadalquivir. Ancient voices surround the manly carnation’s voice. Upon their boots he nailed bites of the wild boar. In the fight he leapt as slippery as a dolphin. In his enemies’ blood he bathed his crimson tie, but there were four daggers, he had to die. When the stars nail spears upon the grey water, when the young bulls dream feints like the wallflower, voices of death resounded beside the Guadalquivir. * Antonio Torres Heredia, Camborio of hard locks, dark in the green moon, the many carnation’s voice: Who took away your life beside the Guadalquivir? My four Heredias cousins Benameji’s sons. The did not envy in others what they envied in me. My raisin-colored shoes, my ivory medallions, this skin of mine, a blend of olive and of jasmine. Ah, Tony Camborio, worthy of an Empress! Think about the Virgin because you’re going to die. Ah, Federico Garcia, call the Civil Guard! Like a stalk of maize my waist is snapped. * Three gushes of blood and his profile died. A living coin, never to be renewed. A swaggering angel lays  his head upon a cushion. Others, tired and blushing, lit a lamp. And when the four cousins arrive at Benameji, the deathly voices cease beside the Guadalquivir.

 

Now  you can  continue the tour to Romilla,

or  return to map of Vega.

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