The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-02-19
ISLANDS OF SOUTHERN SEAS
IMMENSE EXTENT OF THE ISLES IN
 THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC.


 In Molokai-An English Prison in the Olden Times Samoans and Their won- derful Hair-Java and Its Temples.
 Until comparatively recent years few, even among educated people, real iZed the extent of that quarter of the world designated on the maps and in the geographies as Oceanica. They knew that, of course, the islands group ed under this general name were spread over an immense expanse Of ocean, but to most persons the islands were merely names and nothing more, few having even glimmering of the size, of the populousness of land, which, on the maps, appear as mere dots. Aus tralia is as large as the United States, 8 whole continent of itself; while Borneo, the next largest, is over 800 miles long by 700 in width, and has greater num- Der of square miles than Texas; Suma- tra is more than twice the size Of Mis- souri, and Java is as large as Arkan- sas. Besides these, which, for extent, are empires in themselves, there are thousands of smaller islands, scattered over the Southern Pacific, in size, from mere dots to spacious domains, a wor thy heritage for royal family.
 There Is much useful information contained in a book just issued from the Putnam house, Islands of the Southern Seas" by M. M. Shoemaker. The author made an extensive tour throughout the Southern seas, starting Z with the Hawaiian islands and visiting New Zealand, Tasmania and Australia, thence sailing to the north through the X islands of the Indian archipelago and passing by Borneo, Java and Sunatra. is voyage thus included the most inter- esting of the Southern islands, and while he did not remain long on any one, he saw and recorded enough to ake his observations exceedingly pleas ant reading.
 While in the Hawaiian islands the sympathies of the author were most warmly interested in behalf of the resi- dents on the "Island of Dreadful Death" He corrects, however, a pop ular blunder in this respect; the Island < of Molokai is commonly supposed to be entirely given up to the lepers, but this Is not the case. The island is large an has considerable population aside $ from the leper community. When the Hawaiian government determined to stamp out the plague which had been introduced from Asia by the Chinese B immigrants, much study was given to the selection of a suitable locality for the segregation of the afflicted persons, and, finally, a point of land on the Is- ] land of Molokai was chosen. It was a mere sand spit, of a few square miles in extent, and separated from the rest of the island by natural barrier, an in- surmountable cliff, over 300 feet in < height. After being chosen for the pur- pose, this spot was comparatively cut K off by erecting barriers in all paths which formerly led from the peninsula past the bluff, these paths were guard ed then the government agents insti- tuted rigid inquiry among the people as to infected persons, seized all known lepers and deported them. with out delay, to Molokai.
 The government expends s100000 a year upon the support of the lepers whom they have induced to take some interest in cultivation of the soil. There is a band of musicians among them; but could anything be more ghastly than to attend a concert where per formers and audience were alike con- demned to death so terrible? It is g possible thing that they can take any interest in the amusements of those ot a happier state? One can imagine the natives doing so, but there are Euro peans among that ghastly company and does not the sound of some melody of their happier days drive them tt madness, drive them into the glitterinf ocean, even though it's waters abound x with sharks? It is pleasant to record \ that the pest Is not only under control but is diminishing, and in few years < so to speak, these Islands will be free from 1t. Now each case and suspected case is known and noted. The authori ties employ experts, who penetrate int the dwellings of the people, and a sus pect is at once taken to the hospital il Honolulu and there remains until hi case Is passed upon. If he proves to b. a leper he is taken to the island, bu before his departure his family are al lowed to see him once only, through , grating. and never again in life" Tn spiritual welfare of the lepers wa looked after by Father Damien afte his death the place was promptly take, by another devoted man. There ar severalSisters of Charity on the benin sula, who minister to the wants of tn lepers, and, it is said, recruits are al ways ready to take their places whel one succumbs to the pestileuce.
 The other attractions of the Hawaii ans described by MT. Shoemaker is tn great volcano, Kilauea, of which hi impressions are singularlv vivid. '' think I have never seen anything mGr inspiring than that first view Q the gulf of the lake. A perfectly circu lar crater, some 1,500 or 2,00O feet acros and some TOO feet deep, sank into tn lava immediately before us. The side were cracked and scared with the hea of ages, and at It's base 8 field of mol ten lava, of thirty or forty acres, glow ed and steamed on a hellish fashion while explosions that shook the cart followed each other in quick succession The fascination of the spot was in tense, but as it took the form of de sire to jump in, and as our guides were from a distance, waving us to return T. f1.,