The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-02-13
A CURIOUS COMMUNITY.
The Leper Settlement in the Island of Molok


befound on the Island of Molokai, one
Of the islands comprising this group
: The community Is composed of the lie D
ers found amongst the inhabitants of the
other islands ana compelled by law tt
4 reside on Molokai. Ofthe many foreign
ers who visit Honolulu there ara few
who have an opportunity to visit the
leper settlement. The Government is
very strict in granting permission, and
but few outside OF prominent journal
lists, scientific men and an occasional
tourist of distinction can receive the
necessary pass.
The passage by steamer from Honolu-
lu to the Island OF Molokai occupied
aboutten hours, the channel being some
eighty miles wide. The first point
reached is Kalanpapa, the landing for
the lepers. At this place, when dis
tlnguished visitors are expected, u
string band, composed OF lepers, greet
the visitor with plaintive, mournlul
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 music
seems weird at times, and as ii coming
from the mysterious caverns Of death.
For we can hardly imagine that intelll-
gence, that the divine harmony of mu-
sic, can be attributes Of the untortun-
ates standing be ore us and, strange to
relate. apparently Gas happy as the day
is long," The flesh on their faces is
rolled up In masses of the ruddy copper
colored hue, the eyes protrude throu h
smaller layers, and the hand, looking
snort and stunted with the disease,
seems as IT it could not hold the instru-
ment. The players are young, middle
aged, and old, all in the medium stages
OF leprosy; tnat is, the afflttion is plain
ly visible, hut there are no running
sores, nor have holes been eaten througI
feet, hands, or body. When these ma:
tive musicians have finished playing
tney rush 10 greet old companions, ana
many is The hearty "aloha" (IoVe to yuu)
which passes between the lepers ana
their friends. Crowds of native lepers
are on the beach extending their hands
and expressing hearty "AIoha" to
those they greet.
The unlortunates express the greatest
joy at meeting old frienus, and, as is
common with Hawaiians and other
Polynesian tribes, will sit down and CRY
with excess OF pleasure for quarter of
an hour at time. When the flood of
tears is passed they are in an instant
transformed into the most laughter-loV-
lug AuCJ bGCm W Lu6lr
physical condition, and revel in the most
unbounded joy. The contrast between
tears 10 smle es is very strange pnysi-
olosIca reaction. The foreign tourists
who look on at all this are often subject
10 the wit and badlnage OF the lepers,
and especially OF the young women.
Fortunately a young and registering
leper girl Will approach foreigner and
extend her hand for regular pump
handle shake, but it often happens That
the foreigner though not lacking in gal
lantrv, Will fail to respond, through lear
ol the leper touch. Then the girl will
burst out in saucy laughter, and finish
up with the expression Of "Makau oe"
(you are afraiu). All the natives Join
in, and exclaim "Makau kela haole"
(tnat foreigner is atrald). "Mai nei oe.
d me hpnihoni kaua" cume here, and let
US kiss lovingly }, was the taunting salu-
tatlon OF II charming little lepress, whose
af1 .ction had not blotted out the traces
o. beauty in her cheeks nor dImmed the
lustre OF her large, soft, dreamy eyes.
me gentleman addressed courteou sly
declined the proposed nectar, when all
the lepers present, men and women, had
hearty laugh at his expense.
The leper Governor Is man of un.
doubted Intellect, lawyer by profess
sion, and the best orator in the Hawai-
ian Kingdom, whites included. Who
ever mas visited the Sandwich Islands
has heard OF "BllW Ragsdall, as he is
popularity called by foreigners, but Off
cially known as Governor Rags dali. He
1t Is who is cAIel executive at Kalawod.
He is a hall-casle, his mother being
native and his father an American. He
speaks English aud native with perfec-
ton, and has some knowledge of French.
His knowledge Of history is remarkable
and he is We'll read in general litera.
ture. He is apparently torty-fYe years
of age, OF light. graceful bullu, polished
in his manners, and, ike all Hawalians,
hospiLable TO fault. lie first discovered
tuat he was afflicted with leprosy in a
peculiar way. IL was on the Island OF
Hawaii, at his home, while hunt
ing up points on law case. BY ac-
cident the chimney OF his lamp lell off,
and, although it was almost red hot, he
suddenly picked it up and placed it Oh
the lamp. Looking at his hand to see il
it was burned, as any person would un-
der the circumstances, he discovered
that there was not trace of burn,
much less the first painful sensation. IL
flashed across his mind that he was
aft cled with leprosy, and at once, with |
true helo.sm OF soul, he informed the |
authorities, and voluntarily consigned |
himself to perpetual exile from wife, |
family, friends, and the world. Owing
TO his talents and high position, being
slightly affl cted, he might have escaped,
put ne prelerred 10 obey the law.
The valley into which the lepers are
located is nearly two miles and hall |
long, and apparently from u hall mile to |
a mile and half wide. On one side is |
a mountain range, impossible except at |
one point, and there tne exit is very dill |
ticuit, having to be accomplished by the |
aid OF ropes and cIinging TO the branches |
of trees. On The other side is the for
ever agitated ocean. Thus the Iepers |
are secluded not only from the world |
but from the inhabitants occupying the |
other portions Of Molokai. There have |
been lew escapes o. lepers through the |
passage indicated, but il has always |
Deen wonder how they could manage
TO escape by SO steep, precipltous and
dangerous an opening. When captured
they are returned, but no penalty Inflicted
upon them. There is an abundance of |
fresh water on the east side OF the val
ley, a large water-pipe furnishing
supply for the hospital and for other
purposes. The valley is of volcanic
origin. One OF the extinct craters is
about half mile in diameter and one