Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-04-18

burned, as any person would under tho
circumstances, he discovered that thero
was not trace of burn, much less the
| first painful sensation. Itflashed upon his
mind that ho was afflicted with lcprosy, and
at once, with the true horoism of tho soul,
he Informed the authorities, and voluntarily
consigned himself to perpetual exile from
wife, family, friends ond tho world, but
owing to his talents and high position, aud
being slightly afflicted, he might havo es-I
cnped, but he preferred to oboy tho law.
THE LEpER SETTLEMENT AND IT'S SUR.
RoUNDINds. lh
The valley in which tho lcpers arc located
is nearly two miles and a half long, and ap-
parently from half milo to q milo and q
half wide. On ono side is mountain.
range, impossible except at one point, and
there tho exit is very difficult, having to be-
accomplished by tho aid of ropes and clug.
ing to the branches of trees. On tho othor
side is tho forever agitated ocean. Thus
tho lepors are secluded not only from the
world, but from tho inhabitants occupying
tho other portions of Molokai. There havo
boon few escapes Of lepors through tho
passage indicated, but it has always bccn a
wonder how they could manage to escape
by SO steop, precipitous and dangerous
an opening. When captured they arc ro.-
turned, but no penalty is inflicted upon
them. There is au abundance of fresh
water on tho East side of the valley, large
water pipe furnishing supply for the hos.
pltal and for other purposes. Tho valley is
Of volcanic origin. Ono of tho extinct
orators is about half milo in diamotor, aud
$50 feet deep. The middle of the crater is
q beautiful little lake, emcral in its hue. Tho
water is reported to be as salt as tie sea,
and contaius two or three kinds Of fab.
The natives say the lake is unfathomablo,
| and that it is fed from tho sea. Glancins
at the valley as a whole, it is most admira
bly fitted to tho purpose to which it is
allotted. Tho climate is genial, aud if at
times warm in tho summer, the nights arc
delioiously cool. In all the Hawaiian
Islands thcro is not another location so
perfect for eper settlement rs this.
how TIE LEpEns LIVE AND FIND AMUsE-
MENT.
The dcnizons of tho lopcr settlement
manage to enjoy themselves in many ways.
They havc their balls and parties, at which
thoy trip tho light fantastic toe, both in
native aud European style There arc 277
houses in tho valley, mostly built by tho
government for their comfort There arc
two Roman Catholic chapcls and ono Catho
lio church; also two school houses, where
tho young arc educated. Many of the
lcpcrs who ore ablo to work have taro
patches, whcro they plant taro, and thus
procure supply of fresh poi, dclicacy
dear to the native palate. They nearly all
own horses, which thoy at times drive at n
furious ratio. The average kanaka, no
matter where you find him, is sure to ride
his horse to death some day or another, and
the women, in this respect, arc the Same as
the mon. But this is ono of their great
cnjoymcnts, and they will indulge in it
even amongst the lepers. Whom not horse.
riding, planting taro or otherwise engaged,
tho lopcrs do little legitimate loafng
around "tho country storo," where thcy
bartor and trade, and keep inquiring for
letters whenever vessel touches at Ka]au. |
papa, the only landing at tho settlement.
No vessels arc permitted to touch there
except on special business connected with |
the lepers. Whenever vessel touches it
is kind of holiday for all tho natives who
arc ablo to ride down to tho landing. When |
foreigners arrive the natives arc sure to |
reap good harvest, because, though thoy
charge nothing for tho use of their horses,
1T is the custom to pay the owners whatever
you SEQ fit for this kindness. Some of tho |
natives manage to accumulate little money
by trading and speculation.
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