The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-19
ICJRIOUS CODIDIUNIII.
THE LEPER SETTLEMENT IN THE Is
LAND OF MOLoKAI.

\ Sandwich Islands correspondent
writes: The most startling and cX>
traordinary community on the face of
the earth is to bc found on the Island
of Molokai, one of the small islands
comprising this group. The commune
" is composed of the lrpcrs found
among the inhabitants of the other is
land, and compelled by law 10 reside
on Molokai. OF the many foreigners
who visit Honolulu there are few who
have an opportunitO to visit the lcper
settlement. The government is very
strict in granting permission, and but
few prominent journalists. scientific
men and an occasional tourist of dis
tinctiOn can receive the necessary pass.
WEIRD MUSICAL GREETING.
The passage by the steamer from
Honolulu to the island OF Molokai
occupied about ten hours, the channel
being some eighty miles vide. The
first point reached Is kaluupapa, the
landing sor the lcpcrs At this place,
wkcn distinguished visitors are CX-
pcctcd string band, composed OF
lrperS, grects the visitors with plain
tive. muurnful music, we'll fitting their
iusOlutiun from the world ami the
grief. n we should think, within their
hearts. As we look ON the faces Of the
musicians the music seems weird ut
times, an rs il coming from the mys-
tCriOuS caVcrnS of death. For we
can hardly imagine that intelligence,
that the divine harmony Of music, can
be attributes of the unlOrtunatcs
standing before us and, strange to Ic
late, apparo ntlv ''as happy rs ,hc day
is long" The flesh on their faces IS
rolled up in masses of Il ruddv, copper
colored hue, the eyes protrudc through
smaller layers, and the hand. looking
short and stunted with the disease,
seems Is if it could not hold the in
stIument. rhe players are Young.
mid,lle aged and old, all in the medium
stage of leprosy that is, the atiliction
is painfully visible. hut there ave no
running sores, nor have holes been
eaten through feet. hands or body.
When these native musicians have
finished playing they rush to greet old
aloha" QOve to you) which passes
between the lepers and their friends
Crowds of native lepcrs are on the
beach extending their hands and cX-
pressing 81 hearty aloha" to those they
greet.
STRANGE PHYSICAL REACTION.
The unfortunatcs express the great
est joy at meeting o.d friends, and, rs
is common with llawaiinns and other
Polvncsian tribes. will sit down and
cry with excess OF pleasure for Il quar-
ter Of an hour ut 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 unbouuded JOY. The
contrast from tears to smiles Is Il very
Strange physiological reaction. The
foreign tourists who look on ut all this
are often subject 20 the wit and badi
mage of the lepcrs, an lespecially OF tho
young women. Sometimes Il young
and registering lepcr girl will approach
foreigner and extend her hand for ;
regular pump-handle shake. but It
often happens that the foreigner
th ,ugh not lacking in gallantry, vii
fail To respond. through fear Of til,
lepers touch. Then the girl will burs
out i'll saucy laughter, and finish NJ
with the expression of "Mallen Oc'
tyou are atraid). ALI the natives joi.
in and cxclaim. "Makua kela haole'
(that foreigner is allaih.). Mai ne
or Il me honi honi kaua' (come herr
and let us kiss lovinglv), was th
taunting salutation of Il charming lit
tie lepIesS, whose aiiliction had no
blotted out the traces of beauty in he
checks nor dimmed the lu,trc of he
large, soft, dreamy eyes. The gentle
man addressed courteouslv deriincc
the proposed nectar, when all thclepcI'
present. men nnd women, had Il heart,
laugh at his expense.
\ POLISHED LEPER GOVERNOR
The lepcr Governor is a man of un
doubted intellect, a lawyer by profcs
siOu, and the best orator in the lIaw-
allan Kingdom, whites included
Whoever has visited the Sandwich
Islands has heard OF "Billi' Raosdall
as he is popularly called by foreigners
hut officially known as Govcrno
Rag~diil. He il is who is chief exec
utive 1T Kalawod. He is..a half-caste
his mother being native and Li
father an American. lie speaks Enc
lish and native with perfection, All,
has some knowledge of French Iii
knowledge Of history is remarkable
and lie is well read in general literature
lie is apparently forty-iive years o
age, of ght, graceful build, pulishc,
ia his manners, and. like all lIawaiian4
hospiiahle to fault. He first dis
covered :llat he WAS afflicted with lep
rosy in a peculiar way. 1T was on tn
Island of Hawaii, at his home. Will
hunting up points III law case. Il,
acci lent the chimney of his lamp fel