Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-07-23
LEPERS OF THE PACIFIC.
A Terrible Story ofLeProsy In the Sand
wlch Islands-.The Chamber OF Horrors
and the Dance OF Death.

wich Islands--The Chamber OF Horrors
and the Dance OF Death.
After few days OF very quie, lite in
TIalaia began to look with no little curl
osity towards low peninsula to the west
ward on the north coast OF Molokai. 1t
is The home of the lepcrs. A swift and
fortunately smooth sail under the shadow
of stupendous cliffs, That make beautiful
and terrible this side ofthe island, brought
one safely to the shore; there, watching
its chance, the canoe plunged in upon
the beach over the breakers that render
landing in This neighborhood very unsafe
and often impossible.
The peninsula, perhaps three miles
broad, spreading couple Of miles into
the sea, is so completely isolated that
YOU could hardly imagine more appro-
pirate and secure retreat for the poor vic.
Tins of leprosy A rough sea breaks
continually upon wild, forbidding coast.
At the back an almost perpendicular wall
towers to the height of 100 feet. There
is but one avenue Of approach 10y land
a narrow, zigzag trail cut in the face of
this wall, dropping painfully into the
plain below, no doubt filling the breast of
the unhappy leper, who is conducted hith-
er by an officer with sickness and horror,
as he feels that now indeed he is banished
out of the world and forgotten OF men.
Yet this very banshment is to him good
fortune-perhaps the best that could befall
him. At his home. if he have any wor
thy the name, he is more or less regar-
dcd with suspicion, or treated with re-
serve Many of the natives are quite
afraid of contagion; believe the disease
is generally considered as contagious.
Here he il better cared for than he could
be elsewhere; his food, clothing, and
shelter are certainties; they were perad-
ventures before. Being among his fell
lows-the constantassociatc ofthose who,
like himself, are in some sense condemn
ed 20 living death-he is always treated
with consideration and kindness. What
can be more natural than, at least. con-
tentment?
was the guest of a most amiable coup
lie, Mr. and Mrs. Walsh who have charge
of the 2St lepers now in the settlement.
| found mine host living in a little cottage,
surrounded by the various hospital wards,
dormitories and smaller buildings, in fact,
right in the midst ofthe pcstilence. Here,
seldom meeting with foreigners, whose
curiosity is generally not equal TO their,
caution. continually at the mercy of the
multitude around them themselves, ,possi-
BILE victims Of the same terrible malady,
patient, long-suffering, merciful, their
life is indeed heroic and worthy of all
praise. Mr.. Walsh showed us through
the hospitals, four fair-sized buildings of
one room each. with plenty of windows
and fortunately plenty of sea air almost
ALWAYS blowing over the place. We
walked perhaps quarter of mile to q
little village of lepers. Nesting at the foot
of one of those superb cliffs unparalleled
for sublime beauty There live the mod
crate cases. having their own houses,
horses. garden plot, and sometimes friends
as, ''helpers" for company. They GER
tainly seem contenied, some oil them act
ually cheerful. The .'helpcrsn are those
who promise to remain at the settlement,
willing to live there with their afflicted
friends and care for them. They build
and repair houses, attend TO the gardens,
and are generally useful, making their
own living and serving the lepers beside.
In this way they are relief to the gov
ernment, since they are watchiul OF those
who would otherwise require hired watch
ers. 1t has been also decided that hus-
bands of leprous wives or rice rersa, are
| in nature Divorced, but ilthey are willing
may accept life in the settlement, with its
restrictions. Many gladly avail them
selves of the opportunity.
The order was almost perfect during
my stay, and | gave the entire credit to
the persuasive, Christian discipline OF Mr..
and Mrs. Walsh. I am moreover salts
fed that no community Of whites, under
the same circumstances, would behave
themselves as we'll as these poor natives.
The worst features Of the disease are an
unhealthy appetite and complete de-
moralization, the passions becoming al
most ungovernable. Every sunday their
is some service held in one of the hospi-
tai wards. Prayer, exhOrtation and
psalm. singing have become second ma
ture with the old people. A little church
is talked of. They will doubtless have
one before long, part of the funds being
already in hand. The Sunday evening l
spent there we were all edited for four
hours at a stretch by choir of native
boys singing readily by note out of one
copy of the Plymouth collection. Let
us turn back and look into the hospital
rs it is. is..-.-..-.-.--..----.--
We enter the room. Mats spread on
all sides are covered by about dozen or
fifteen recumbent figures, among the
worst of the bad cases. A fetid odor,