The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-11-05

of the Settlement provide their
own fuel, but they use very little, making a
fire not more than once week or so to cook
their beef or rice ration. Although this is
the case, fuel is becoming much more diff
cult to procure, owing to the large
population OF the Settlement, and
Mr.. Gibson suggested that algaroba seeds
be scattered over the rougher ground To sup
ply not only fuel in time, but greater shade
and feed for the horses. This practical sug-
gestiOn will doubtless also be carried into
effect, to the lasting good Of the Settlement
and economy of expenditure.
The poi house was next visited It is
within the Hospital enclosure also, and was
a decided surprise to at least one Of the
visitors whose only knowledge of poi houses
has been acquired in Honolulu, where the
Chinese, with their proverbial filth, have
managed to make these food factories pesti-
lent nuisances. The poi house al the Kala-
wac leper hospital was clean and sweet
smelling, and the stores Of paia done up in
25-pound bundles, from which the poi is
prepared, were sweet smelling also. If such
a state of things exist at Kalawao there is no
reason why different condition of things
should prevail elsewhere, and especially so
in populous place like Honolulu.
The Hospital yard is well grassed, and an
attempt is made to cultivate flowers. Sweet
scented honeysuckle climbs up the porch of
one of the cottages, while few banana and
great many papala trees are growing,
their fruit being greatly relished by the
unfortunate people. 1t is not like an abode
of desOlation aud despair purified as it is by
the health-giving ocean breeze that ever
blows, nesting in the shadow of the ever
lasting hills, and surrounded by fragrant
blossoms of fruit and flower. Crossing the
Hospital yard, such of the inmates as were
able to leave their apartments were standing
or sitting in the sunshine, and looked pic
lures Of dOleful content if one may use such
phrase with prOpriety, but it is precisely
the one which appears to apply to their case.
In one corner Of the yard is the lookup or
prison, where the two prisoners charged
with killing KauohOoahu and Kaimulau ct
Kalaupapa on Friday, October 30th, were
confined. 1t consists of two cells, so that
the prisoners occupied separate apartments
and could not communicate with each other.
1t was upon this occasion that the President
of the Board of Health questioned them as
reported in yesterdays ADVERTISER.
Across the road from the Hospital is the
market OF general store, managed on account
| of the Board of Health by q white
leper. 1t was well patrOnized appar-
emily by the residents, who were inside and
outside in considerable numbers, arguing an
activity Of business seldom seen even in
Honolulu. The stock was rather low. The
| profits from the goods SO back into the store,
which is a great convenience to the resi-
dents at KalawaO. The people at Kalau-
| papa, which is the steamboat landing, may
obtain their supplies at that point from an
independent store, but some Of them send
direct to Honolulu. If absolute segregat ton
could be effected, the Government market
store would be the only place whore extras
could be purchased. This is hardly possible,
however, while Kokuas are permitted to
reside anywhere at the Settlement.
The Dispensary is situate in detached
cottage outside the Hospital grounds. 1t is
here that DIR. Mouritz dispenses medicines
to the lepers, who, however, as a rule, do
not obey instructions. In short they are a
very difficult people to manage, and cannot
be compelled to attend to sanitation unless
they become inmates of the Hospital, and
then they are too far advanced with disease
to admit of any great ameliOration of their
condition by medical treatment. In the
earlier stages of the disease much may be
| accomplished in this way; but in nearly
every case the native Hawaiian has more
faith in his own kahunas than in the scien.
| tific treatment of a medical man.
| The condition of the Hospital, as has been
shown, is now very satisfactory. In 1878
on the occasion of the visit Of
! the Legislative Committee, of which
| Mr.. Gibson was Chairman, and al
whose instigation that official vista
ton was made, its condition was very
offensive. The buildings and general ar
engagements were very bad, the poor people
being in deplorably neglected condition
| From that time dates the improvement Of
the Hospital and of the Settlement gener
/ ally, and it has gone on until both have
reached their present very high state o.
! exeellency. During the past three years the
Leper Settlement on Molokai has been under
| the control of Mr.. Gibson, as Presi
! dent of the Board OF Health, who has given
unwearied attention to the details Of itl
management, as well as to those at the
Branch Hospital at Kakaako.
FATHER DASnEN's MISSION.
| Leaving the Hospital and store at Kala.
| WAC His Excellency proceeded towards the
cliffs that lie eastward of the Settlement tc
| get view of the source of water supply
| The road passed through what was the origi
nal leper colony of Kalawao, close to q little
bay at which there is easy Winter land.
ing, and where fish may be caught. Frame
houses are numerous on either side, some OF
them being surrounded by flowers and
shrubs within the enclosures, while here and
there we're banana and papaia trees, the
latter in full bearing, while the former did
not look thrifty. He was accompanied
by Father Damien, who pointed out with
laudable pride his own residence and ad-
joining church, together with the boys
school or home which lac has established
close by. The boys appeared to enjoy them
selves, and certainly manifested affection
towards their teacher and friend. The eff
feet of leprosy upon the young is more re-
markable by far than upon people of mature
years. 1t gives them a prematu rely aged
and elfsh-like expression when the disease
Al, L, 4