The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1884-02-13

llshCd form OF society blngS-mtrlguC,
ambitions, Islander, envy, and the rest of it,
Nou see lcprosy-ths is my experience
and | know more of the practical workings
of the disease than amy living man, perhaps
takes such uncomfortable power of the
sexes that society obscryanccs arc swept
into the vortex. Do you understand what
mean?'
"Wcll, Father, with what have heard
before, do fancy; but may not the con-
dition you speak of belong to the race quite
as much as the diseasc?"
81 think not" he replied. 81 used to
think so; but find the same passions
amongst the Chinese, Japanese, Indian,
and EsquimauX, of whom we have few
brought from whaling ships. No, believe
it is part of the disease
"And what do you do, Father, for these
people?'',
"Grant them absolution when they will
accept it, believing that they are not re-
sponsibIe.''
occupied by the priest. 1t has few books,
a chair and table, no beds, some blankets
rolled up in one corner of the principal
apartment, which, with the one forming the
kitchen, makes up the establishment. Pres
trousers and a coarse shirt fetches coffee in
mugs. He is leper that can readily see,
and | feel inclined not to have coffee
''Dear sir, do not be afraid. They have
attended me for years. The disease is not
contagious, excep pit in few ways,' remarks
the Father as he swallows his own portion,
and do the same.
CHOW come along,' he adds, eve must
mppt tbpSp DpoDlp - oO1 th,lC 1ya cbotto6 oC
we moved along together, the questions
| being asked by me, the answers given by
him.
''Isn't there a superintendent here?'
eyes; but he lives over at Kalae. They
can't get a good man to stay here
''Afraid?,,
Ono, not that. Most people who come
here are soon overpoweredb by the depressing
conditions Of the life here. The Govern
ment has not given us a resident physician
| yet. They will sooner or later, and pay
enough for a man to have him stay. AS it
| is, the superintendent comes over at occa-
sional intervals only. We are practically
alone here
| begin to notice that Father Damien
invariably speaks of the people and himself
as ''we.''
There is an assistant superintendent, Mr..
| Clayton, who has done very much toward
improving the road over the Pail (the pre-
| cipice), and that is about, indeed it is ALL
We live here in the most complete condition
of isolation.''
No mails p
Have no need for any,
''The Government send you food %
''Some poi, which is not very good al
ways being sometimes sour; then there is
ration of seven pounds of beef a week for
each leper, which, with 81 pounds of poi is
| the ration for each person. If they will 90
to work and raise the vegetable for poi the
Government pays for it. TO encourage the
| lepers to work we have established little
store where they may spend their earnings
for Injuries, such as coffee, tea, or sugar,
and clothing"
"Does not the Government give them
clothng?'
Yes, in small quantities they do not
need much. But here we are at the land
ing. The boats were coming ashore with
their brnthens of lepers and, standing at
one side Of the little pier, watched them
land. Some Of them gave signs of half
awakened curiosity others were apathetc
or moancd in pain. They looked and
acted like people being led out to execution.
Among the last to come on shore was the
half-white girl, whose history promised in
the first paper She was the child of II
native woman, whose father was Il chief of
kaula, by the owner and master of Il Yankee