The Osceola times., 1877-01-27
AMONG THE LEPERS.
A Com ma unity Of Exiies I'm the Island Of
Molokai.

/
The most startling and extraordinary
community on the face of this earth is to
be found on the island of Molokai one
of the small islands comprising this
group. The community is composed Of
the lepers found amongst the inhabitants
of the other islands and compelled by
law to reside on Molokai. OF the many
foreigners that visit Honolulu there are
few who have an opportunity to visit the
leper settlement. The government is
strict in granting permission, and but
few outside prominent journalists, scien-
titic men and an occasional tourist of dis
tinction can receive the necessary pass.
A WEIRD MUSICAL GREETING.
The passage by steamer from Honolu-
lu to the island of Molokai occupied
about ten hours, the channel being some
eighty miles wide. The first point
reached is Kalaupapa, the landing for
the lepers. At this place, when dis
tinguished visitors are expected, string
band, composed of lepers, greet the visi-
tors with plaintive, 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 music seems
weird at times, as if coming from the
mysterious caverns OF death For we
can hardly imagine that intelligence, that
the divine harmony of music, can be at
tributes of the unfortunates standing be-
fore us and, strange to relate, apparently
''as happy as the day is long" The
flesh on their faces is rolled up in
masses of ruddy, copper-colored hue,
the eyes protrude through smaller
layers, and the hand, looking short and
stunted with the disease, seems as
if it could not hold the instru.
ment. The players are young, mid
die aged and old, all in the medium
states of leprcsy that is, the affliction
is painfully visible, but there are no
running sores, nor have holes been eaten
through feet, hands or body. When
these native musicians have finished play.
ing they rush to greet old companions,
and many is the hearty "aloha" (love to
you) which passes between the lepers
and their friends. Crowds of native
lepers are on the beach extending their
hands and expressing a hearty "aloha"
to those they greet.
STRANGE PHYSICAL REACTION.
The unfortunates express the greatest
Joy at meeting old friends, and, as is
common with Tlawaiians and other Poly
nesian tribes, will sit down and cry with
excess of pleasure for a quarter of an
hour at time. When the flood OF tears
has passed they are in an instant trans
formed into the most laughter loving
mortals. They seem to forget their
physical condition and revel in the most
unbounded joy. The contrast from tears
to smiles is very strange physiological
reaction. The foreign tourists who look
on at all this are often subject to the wit
and badinage of the lepers, and especially
of the young women. Fortunately a
yound and registering leper girl will ap.
proach foreigner and extend her hand
for a regular pump-handle shake, but it
often happens that the foreigner, though
not lacking in gallantry, will fail to re-
spond through fear of the leper's touch.
Then the girl will burst out in saucy
laughter, and finish up with the express
sion OF "Makau oe" (you are afraid).
All the natives join in, and exclaim,
"Makau kela baole" (that foreigner is
afraid). "Mai nei oe, a me honihoni
kaus" (come here, and let us kiss low
ingly), was the taunting salutation of a
charming little lepress, whose affliction
had not blottled out the traces of beauty
in her cheeks nor dimmed the
luster of her large, soft, dreamy eyes.
The gentleman addressed courteously de-
clined the proposed nectar, when all the
lepers present, men and women, had
hearty laugh at his expense.
POLISHED LEPER GOVERNOR.
The leper governor is a man of un-
doubted intellect, lawyer by profession,
and the best orator in the Hawaiian king
dom, whites included. Whoever has
visited the Sandwich islands has heard of
"Bill" Ragsdall, as he is popularity called
by foreigners, but officially known as gov.
ernor Ragsdal. He it is who j. chief
executive at Kalawod. He lisa half caste,
his mother being a native and his father
an American. He speaks English and
native with perfection, and has some
knowledge of French. His knowledge
of history is remarkable, and he is well
read in general literature. He is sppar-
emily forty-fve years of age, OF light,
graceful build, polished in his manners,
and, like all Hawaiians, hospitable to
fault. He first discovered that he was
afflicted with leprosy in peculiar way.
1t was on the island of Hawaii, at his
home, while hunting up points on law
case. By accident the chimney of his
lamp fell eff, and although it was almost
red hot, he suddenly picked it up and
placed it on the lamp. Looking at his
hand 10 see if it was burned, as any per.
son would under the circumstances, he
discovered that there was not trace of
a burn, much less the first painful sensa-
tion. 1t flashed upon his mind that he
was afflicted with lepresy, and at once,
with true heroism OF soul, he informed
the authorities, and voluntarily con.
signed himself TO perpetual exile from
wife, family, friends and the world.
Owing TO his talents and high position,
being slightly afflicted, he might have
escaped, but he preferred to obey the law.
THE LEPER sETTLEMENr AND ITS SUR
RoUNDINGs.
The valley In which the lepers are To-
Gated is nearly two miles and half long,
and apparently from half mile to mile
and half vide. On one side is a noun
tain range imnassable except nj one