Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-04-18
A CURIOUS COMMUNITY.
THE LEPER 4SEI7LE LENENT IN
THE ISLAND or MOLOKAL

STRANGE AND STARTLING SIGHTS AMONG
THE BANIsnED UNFoRTUNATEs.
The most startling and extraordinary
community on tho face of this earth is to
be found on tho Island Of NIolokai, ono. Of
the small islands comprising the Hawaiian
group. The community is composed of tho
9lepers found amongst the inhabitants of tho
other islands aud compelled by the law to
reside on Molokai. Of tho many foreigners
who visit Honolulu there are few who haze
an opportunity to visit tho eper settlement.
Tho government is very strict in granting
permission, and but few outside prominent
Journalists, scientific men und an occasional
tourist of distinction can receive tho neoes-,
sary pass.
A WEIRD MUSICAL GREETING.
The passage by steamers from Honolulu
to the Island of Molokai occupied about ton
hours, tho channel being somo eighty miles
wide. Tho first point reached is Kalaupa-
pa, tho landing for tho epcrs. At this place,
when distinguished visitors arc expected,
string band, composed of lopefs, greet the
visitors with plaintivc, mournful music,
well fitting their isolation from tho world
and the grief, wo should think, within
thoir hearts. AS we look on the faces of
tho musicians the music seemed weird at
times, os IL coming from the mysterious
caverns of death. For wo can hardly i'm
agiue that Intelligence, that tho divine
harmony of music, can be attributes of the
unfortunates standing before us and, strange
to relate, apparently "as happy as tho day
is long" Tho flesh on their faces is rolled |
up in masses of ruddy, copper. .colorcd hue,
tho cycs protrude through smaller layers,
and tho hand, looking short and stuntcd
with the disease, seems as if it could not
hold the instrument The players arc
young, middle.agcd and old, all in the
medium stages of loprosy; that is, tho
affliction is painfully visible, but thcro arc
no running sores, nor have holes been eaten
through feet, hands or body. When these
native musicians have finished playing they
rush 10 greet old companions, and many is
the hearty "aloha" (lovo to you) Which
passes between the lepers and thcir friends.
Crowds of native lcpers arc on tho beach
extending their hands and expressing
hearty '4aioha" to those they greet.
STRANGE PHYSICAL REACTION.
The unfortunate express the greatest Joy
at meeting old friends, and, as is common
with Hawaiians and other Poynesian tribes,
will sit down and cry with excess of pleasure
fof quarter Of an hour at a timo When
tho flood of tears has passed. away they are
In an instant transformed into tho most
laughtor.loving mortals. They seom to forget
their physical condition and rcvel in the
most unbounded joy. The contrast from tears
to smiles is very strange physiological s
reaction. Tho foreign tourists who look s
on oil this are often subject to the wit and
badinage of tho lepers, and especially of tho
young women. Fortunately young and
roystoring leper girl will approach for.
cigncr and extend her hand for regular
pump. p.handlc shake, but it often happens
that the foreigner, though not lacking in
gallantry, will fail to respond through fear
Of tho leper's touch. Then tho girl will
burst outin saucy laughter, and finish up
with the expression of "Makau co." (you
are afraid.) All the natives join in, and .
exolaim., "Makau kcla haolo,' 0hat for.
elgner IS afrald.) "Mai nei 90, me honi
honi kama" (ccmo hero and let us kiss s
io,ving!!yD was the taunting salutation of a
charming littlo lepress, whose affliotion had
not blotted out the traces of beauty in her
check nor dimmed the lustre Of her large,
soft, dreamy eyes. Tho gentleman ad..
dressed courtoously declined tho proposed
nectar, when oil tho lepers present, men
and women, had hearty laugh at his ex-
pense.
A POLISHED LEPER GOVERNOR.
The leper Governor is q 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 hoard of
"Bill" Ragsdall, as he is popularity callod
by foreigners, but officially known as Gov.
Ragsdall. Ho it is who Is chief executive
at Kalawod. He ia half casto, his mother
being native and his father an American.
He speaks English and native with per-
feotion, and has some knowledge Of Frenoh.
His knowledge Of history is remarkable,
and ho is we'll read in general literature. |
Ho is apparently forty 6vo years Of age, of !
light graceful build, polished in his man.
ners, and, like ell Hawaians, hospitablo to
"a fault. Ho first discovered that ho was
afflicted with loprosy in peculiar way. It
was ON the Island Of Hawaii, at his homo,
while hunting up points on o law cnse. BY
accident the chimney of his lamp fell off,
and although IL was almost red hot, he
aHddonly picEedit up and placed II on the
limp. Looking at his hand to scoifis was 4