The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-02-10
The Leper Girls of Honolulu,

San Francisco Post: OF the many foreign
ers who visit Honolulu there are few who
have an opportunity to visit the lepcr settle
ment. The government is very strict grant.
ing permission, and but few outside promi
nent journalists, scientific men, and an
occasional tourist of distinction can receive
the necessary pass.
The passage by steamer from Honolulu TO
the Island of Molokai occupied about ten
hours, the channel being some so miles wide
The first point reached is Kalaupapa, the
landing for the lepers. At this place, when
distinguished visitors are expected, string
band composed of lcpers, greet the visitor
with plaintlve, mournful music, well fitting
their isolation from the world and the grief,
as we should think within their hearts. AS
we look on the faces of the musicians the
muslc seems weird at times, and as If coming
from the mysterious caverns OF death. For
we can hardly imagine that intelligence, that
divine harmony of music can be attributes of
the unfortunates standing before US and,
strange to relate, apparently "as happy as the
day is long" The flesh on their faces is roll
cd up in masses of a rudy, unprecedented
hue, the eyes protrude through smaller lay.
ers and the hand, looking short and stunted
with the disease seems as if ii could not hold
the instrument. The players are young, mid
dle.aged and old, all in the medium stages OF
leprosy; that is. the affection is painfully
visible, but there are no running sores, nor
have holes been eaten through their feet
hands or body. When these native musicians
have finished playing they rush to greet old
companions, and many is the hearty aloha
| dove to love- which passes between the !e
pers and their friends. Crowds OF native lep
ers are on the beach extending their hand:
and expressing II hearty "alOha" to those
they meet.
The unfortunate express the greatest JOY at
meeting old friends, and, as IS common with
! Hawaiians and other PolyneSlan tribes, Will
sit down and cry with excess of pleasure for
quarter of an hour at a time. When the
food OF tears has passed they are in an instant
transformed into the most laughtcr-loving
mortals. They seem to forget their physical
CONDITION, and rcvel in the most unbounded
10y. The contrast from tears TO smiles Is Il
very strange physiological reaction. The tor.
eign tourists who look on at all this are often
subject to the wit and badmage of the lepers,
and especially of the young women. Ere.
uuently young and registering leper girl will
approach a foreigner and extend her hand
| for regular pump handle shake, but it often
happens that the foreigner, though not lack
ing in gallantry, will fail TO respond, through
l fear of the lepers touch. Then the girl Will
burst out in saucy laughter, and finish up
with the expression of "Makau oe" (you are
afraid Ali the natives join In, and exclaim
I"Makau kela hale" THAT foreigner is afraid
Mai nei oe, a me honihoni kaua" (comt
here and let us kiss lovingly, was the taunt
ing salutation of a charming little lepress
whose afiiIction had net blo,ted out the trace:
of beauty in her cheeks nor dimmcd the luStrC
of her large, soft, dreamy eyes.