The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-06-08

as follows
Denim, inferior rio au% S~- ~~~-~: ~ ~~~~ :~~. - cents
Printss is to 20 cents
soap api per Pn 81 cen
Whilst some of these prices are fair retail rates, others are
very high, especially Of staple articles most needed by lepers;
and it is the opinion of your Committee that the clothing
ration OF s.. IS, can furnish at these prices, only a very scant
annual allowance OF clothing; and they are furthermore OF
the opinion that the clothing ration of lepers should be pro
cured for them at wholesale rates, and the Government pro
VIDE tor the expenses incidental to purchase, freight and DIS
tribution, According to the Report of the Board of Health;
lepers were provided with clothing during the late biennial
period to the amount of 50, 1862. 81, which amount must be
Among the complaints laid before your Committee, it was
stated that neither e lamp oil, soap, or salt were furnished gra-
articles had to be purchased with their own money at the
settlement store. Complaint also was made that neither
bucket or bowl, nor culinary vessel or utensiI OF any kind
was furnished to lepers; and your Committee observed at the
hospital a notable deficiency in respect to bathing vessels, as
use of about sixty patients, usually in a fthy and excoriated
condition. But in this connection your Committee are pleased
and that there are many hydrants or taps in convenient
places tor the distribution of water throughout the settle
ment, and at the hospital buildings.
Your Committee gladly notice the salubrious situation of
the hospital grounds at an elevation of about 100 feet above
the level of the sea; and noticed that the several wards for
the very sick, and the store rooms were kept in proper order.
But your Committee regret at the same time to notice the
small supply of bedding or clothing of confined lepers, as
some showed to your Committee a tattered remnant of a
blanket as the only covering. And in the hospital dispen-
sary there was no adequate supply of medicines for such an
assemblage OF sick people, and no suitable Eniments or diin-
fectants; nor a strip of lint to help cleanse or bandage the
During the stay of your Committee at the Settlement, a
digging of the grave in this instance, and noted as stated by
Kaapu and other witnesses (see appendix) that lepers in
very crippled state were obliged to dig graves, Kaapu, who
took part in this work, had lost several joints of his fnge.s, as
will be seen in photograph No; 10, and the others who as as.
as stated by Kaluakini, and others, (e appendix) if any
I RiPp waet u rat Il u e a f9 Grave w Mn ths c conne cfon' I n1 wa commit ~nni
tee were Informed as stated by Puma and others, that lepers
have to pay for their own collins, and have formed a coffin
association in order to provide a common fund for their
proper interment; and these sad creatures get up as shown
by the register of the hospital, Q coffin feasts, on which oc-
casions money is contributed to provide for a decent termina-
ton of their woes.
Assistant Superintendent, Rev. Damien, stated that two
dollars was the price of a rough board coffin, and that many
deceased lepers, who had not left behind them this amount
of worldly goods, were buried without a coffin, and IN one IN
stance he had witnessed at Kalawao portions of a corpse
rooted up out of a shallow grave, and devoured by hogs. At
ground adjoining his church well enclosed, in which deceased
Iepers, whether Of his communion or not, are decently buried,
In respect to deceased Iepers, your Committee were in
formed by Keoni Kaahaihanu and superintendent Sumner, see
appendix) that in case of effects Of deceased, If OF a value
not exceeding five dollars, were presented to friends of or
attendants upon a dead leper; but if above the value OF five
dollars, effects were sold at auction in the Settlement, and the
proceeds were forwarded to the agent of the Board of Health
to be transmitted to heirs at law. Many small estates of
lepers had thus been forwarded. The lepers at the Settle
ment urged upon the attention of your Committee, that mas
much as they were regarded as civilly dead, and entirely cut
off from their former homes and people, that the immediate
sess the effects left behind whether large OF small.
The lepers complained to your Committee that there was
no proper administration of law in the Settlement, as will be
seen in the statements of Nahakualii and others, (see appen-
dix They complained OF the arbitrary proceedings OF the
present, and of a former superintendent such as conhnlng
a leper with ball and chain, (see weekly statement) for no
other offense than running or attempting to run away, or
combining with irons for small ofenses or breaches OF the
peace; or enforcing labor and imposing fines and penalties
for non compliance. In this matter, your Committee are Of
opinion, that a body of people, brought together like this I'M
fortunate community must needs be subject to an authority
with discretionary powers, but all the circumstances warrant
them in saying and recommending that this authority, If pos
sible, should only be vested in the hands of a kind and able
administrator of large experience, who should also be a ply
stefan of Tepute.
A large-minded, phiIanthropic, energetic, professional SUI
perintendent or governor is the great want and necessity OF
the unfortunate community at Kalawao. Superintendent
Sumner, a feeble and unhappy leper himself, is utterly made
muate. Assistant Superintendent Damien IS a devoted and
heroic priest, who has voluntarily sacrificed his young life for
the welfare of the lepers. But his spiritual duties necessarily
engross the larger portion of his attention; and it would seem
to be q pity to impose the details of secular work upon such
a man. and interrupt his holy work of mercy in consoEng his
wretched parish. Therefore your Committee express the
hope, that such provision will be made by the Government,
and such inducements will be offered, as will ultimately re
suit in securing the valuable services OF the superior and
skilled official now needed at Kalawao.
The presence of such a man is presslngly needed to discern
and properly treat the different conditions of the afflicted;
to provide for social and moral order to combine the func-
tions of Judge and executive to regulate the construction
and situation of habitations; to organize Industries to look
word, there is needed a priest, a chief, and a physician all in
Your Committee will observe here, that this little kingdom
has not been backward in meeting this great af1iction. Ger
tainly a small nation of 56,897 souls that provides in two
years S59,67442 for only one portion of its sick, IS well vim
dicating its name and fame as a humane and civilized COM
munitV: but as vOur COmmittee believe that still more can