The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-09-24

nearly all the 500 lepers Of the Settlement were
there Some Of the poor lepers (about seventy
i've. rudely uniformed as soldiers, were drawn
up IN order as an escort. \ temporary wharf
had been made q large lanai, or booth, for re-
cepuon, and the pathway 10 it from the beach
strewn with evergreens and flowers. Many arch
e With loyal Inscriptions were erected, and a re-
markabie display made. considering the unhappy
state Of the people, the short notice Of about two
days Of the expected visit, and all was devised
under the direction Of good'Father Damien and
the superintendent. Mr.. Meyers.
The lepers cheered at first their Ali Makua-
hlne princess Mother a. they hailed her, and
then sorrow overspread their distorted cOuute-
nances. The Princess Regent was deeply moved
on beholding the effects Of the disease on the
people, so many OF whom she knew personally.
SO she signifed 4 10 Hon. J. ". Kapena to speak
for her TO the poor unfoTtunates. He spoke
thus substantially in the Hawaiian language -
MY FRIENps,-Afhicted with disease. know
that our Royal Mother. the Princess Regent,
and her ROYAL Sister. animated with warm love
for You all, have come here TO meet YOU, and TO
speak with you. But they are so overcome with
feelings OF anguish At your woeful condition,
that they ind II impossible 10 speak but you
behold their tears Of love and sorrow pouring
forth from their eyes. 1t fills ones heart with
deep grief, agonizing indeed. 10 behold your
teatures-many of you old familiar faces-so
badly marked by this dreadful disease as to be
hardly recognizable. But there Is consolation
in learning from you that you fud ample sub
sistence here, and that you are cared for i'll your
sad abode. Now, in view of your situation,
there Is one thing 20 bless you and thank you
for, and that is the willing manner in which You
have delivered yourselves 10 fate and Danish
ment from relations and friends, for by such
means alone will your compatriots escape from
being sharers IN this desolatiug disease. You
are all aware that our King has taken n tour
around the world and l am most happy TO say
to you all, my dear suffering friends, that whilst
our King is on his way from place to place in
far distant lands, he has never forgotten You,
and never forgets 10 look for means TO benefit
you. He has been everinquiring to find doctors
and medicines that can cure this disease. On
his arrival at Japan, and on his learning that
there was a physician at the head of a leper
hospital whose fame was all over the land for
curing leprosy, our King Immediately dispatched
one of his suite to invite him to an interview, so
that he (our king) might personally receive
some Information regarding the Treatment of this
disease. And not only while at Japan did His
Majesty look for this information, but every
where he went, whenever he heard of leprosy
being treated, he inquired and collected all in
formation regarding it. By this you will per-
ceiye, my friends in affection, that our King has
never forgotten you, but has made every effort
to succeed in finding help and succour for you,
his poor, unfortunate subjects. With these few
remarks, my friends, / invite you, one and all.
to send up your appealing prayers TO heaven,
whence rest for the mind and body comes while
we live, and the forgiveness of our sins and ever
lasting life in the other world"
The whole assemblage continued to weep while
kapena spoke. Every eye was wet with tears,
and the Princesses freely mingled theirs with the
sufferers. Rev. p. w. Kama and d. Puni
spoke in behalf of their fellow lepers.
From thence the Princess Regent and party
rode to the Hospital and around the settlement,
and left at . pm, to return to Honolulu.