Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-02-02
a Curious Commit unity.

a Curious Community.
THE LErER SETTLEMENT IN THE ISLAND
OF MoLAKAI; STRANGE AND STARTLING
SIGHTS AMONG THE DANIsHED UNFoR-
TUNATEs.
The most startling and extraordinary
community on the face of the earth is to be
found on the Island of Molakai 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 or the many foreigners who vis-
ii Honolulu there are few who have an op-
portunity 10 visit the leper settlement.
The government is very strict in granting
permission, and but few outside promi-
nent journ alists, scientific men aud an oc-
casional tourist Of distinction can receive
the necessary pass.
The passage 10y steamer from Honolulu
to the Island OF Molakai occupied about
ten hours, the chanrel being some eighty
miles wide. The first point reached is Ka-
lsuppa, the landing for the lepers. At this
plac c, when distinguished visitors are ex-
pected, string band, composed of lepers,
gre ct the visitor with plantive, mourn
ful 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 if coming from the
mysterious caverns Of death. For we can
hardly imagine that intelligence, that the
divine harmony Of music, can be attributes
Of the unfortunates standing before us and,
strange 10 relate, apparently "ss 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
small layers, and the hand, looking short
and s;unted with the disease, seems as If il
could not hold the instrument. The play
ers are young, middle-aged and old, all in
the medium stages Of leprosy; that Is, the
afllictiOn is painfully visible, but there are
no running. sores, Eor have holes been eat
en- 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' dove to you)
which passes between the lepers and their
fri ends. Crowds Of native lepers are on
the beach extending their hands and ex-
pressing hearty "aloha" to those they
greet.
The Unfortunates express The greatest
joy at meeting old friends, and, as is COM
mon with HawaiiaEs and other Polynesian
tribes, will sit down and cry with excess OF
pleasure for quarter of an hour at time.
When the lood of tears has passed they are
in an instant transformed into the most
aughter-loving mortals. They seem to
forget their physical condition and revel in
tho 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 aud badnaee of the lepers, and es-
pecally of the young women. Frequently
a young and registering leper girl will ap-
proa ch foreigner and extend her hand for
q regular mp-handle shake, but it onen
happens that the foreigner, though not lack
ing in gallautry, will fail TO respond,
through fear Of the leper's touch. Then
the girl will burst out in saucy laughter,
aud finish up with the expression of Ma
kau oe" (you are alIaid). All the natives
join in, and exclaim, "Makau kela haole"
Chat foreigner is aGraid), mai nei oe, me
homhoni kama" (come here, and let us kiss
lovingly, was the taunting salutation of
charming little lepress, whose affiiction had
not blotted out the traces of beauty in her
cheeks nor dimmed the lustre of her large,
son, dreamy eyes. The gentlemen ad-
dressed cautiously declined the proposed
nectar, when all the lepers present, men
and women, had hearty laugh at his eA-
| pense.
The lepeT governor is a man of undoubt-
ed intellect, lawyer 10y profession and the
best orator in the Hawaiian Kingdom,
whites included. Whoever has visited the
| Sandwich Islands has heard of "Bill Rags
DALI" as be is popularity called by foreign
ers, but officially known as Gov. Ragsdall.
lie it is who is Chief Executive at Kala-
wod. He is a half caste, his mother being
| d 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 apparently 45 years of age, of light and
| graceful build, polished in his manners,
and, like all Hawaiians, hosptable to a
fault. He first discovered that he was af-
hlcted with leprosy in a peculiar way. 1t
was on the Island of Hawaii, at his home,
while hunting up the points of law case.
By accident the chimney of his lamp fell
oil, and although it was almost red hot, he
suddenly picked 1t up and placed it on the
lamp. Looking at his hand to see If it was
burned, as any person would under the
circumstances, he discovered that there
was not a trace of burn, much less the
first painful sensation. 1t flashed upon his
mind that he was afflicted with leprosy, and
at once, with true heroism of soul, he in
formed the authorities, and voluntarily
consigned himself to perpetual exile from
wife, family, friends and the world. Ow-
ing 10 his talents and high position, being
slightly afflicted, he might have escaped,
but he preferred TO obey the law.
The valley in which the lepers are located
is nearly two miles and half long, and ap-
! Parently from a half mile 10 mile and