Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1899-07-21

In q small but comfortable cottage
near the coast of Molokai took up
my abode. The trip across Kaiwi
Strait in the leper ship had passed
without incident, and 1 stepped from
her deck to the soil of Molokai with q
feeling that 1 should never leave the
place again.
/ did not mingle with the other
unfortunates in the settlement. There
was, near the outskirts of the colony,
the small cottage mentioned above.
It was unoccupied and in serious need
of repairs when l arrived at my de-
stination. But had it overhauled by
leper workmen, and it suited my pre-
sent needs. In it 1 got my own
meals, and lived by myself. There
were attendants in the colony, heroic
men who had placed their lives at the
service Of such unfortunates as l.
From the porch of my cottage. 1
could see, through vista of palm
trees, the white, glistening monument
erected to the memory of Father
Damien, whose life went out among
the lepers, himself a victim of the
dread scourge he had come among the
people to combat. There were those
still living who spoke highly of Father
Damien's courage, his noble purpose,
his gentle kindness and the sadness of
his life's sacrifice.
1t cannot be said that / was in a
happy or a comfortable frame of mind.
Physically l felt as well as l had at
The Corals. But was a man con
demned to die. Hope had died with
in me. l simply waited.
MY daily life was monotonous. One
day was much the same as another.
l rose early, and ate sparingly of dates,
poi and cocoa. 1t was at Molokai
that / first tasted the native dish Of
poi. This is made from the root Of
the taro plant-a plant of the fami =
to which the calla-lily belongs. The
taro plant is the most prolific food
plant in the world. II has been
claimed by Humboldt that this dis
tinction belongs to the banana, but
the banana cannot be compared to the
taro plant in the matter of production.
A square yard and half planted with
taro will yield enough food to last a
man year. Thus the question Of
subsistence in Hawaii is a simple one.
The taro plant is poisonous when raw,
but cooking destroys the poisonous
properties and renders it very whole.
some. 1t is first baked, then pounded
and mixed with water. When fully
prepared it is of consistency much
like mayonnaise. 1t is regarded by
the natives of Hawaii as bread is by
Europeans. found it to be far from
disagreeable, and became quite ex-
pert in the preparation OF it.
Itook plenty of exercise. Itramped
through the forests and, as my uncle
had been thoughtful enough to include
a sporting outfit in my luggage,
bagged more than one meal with my
rifle And l spent a great deal of
time fishing. There was certain
rock which poked its rugged nose out
of the water not far from the coast,
and which was easily accessible in a
small boat. Around this rock a
species of bass was plentiful, and l sat
for hours on that rock capturing them
l supplied more than one poor devil
with food.
There was a Mexican not far from
the colony who had small farm.
The products of this he disposed of TO
the lepers. The colony was in charge
of an officer from the Reception Hos
pital at Honolulu, and he made certain
that his unfortunate wards were we'll
cared for. This Mexican farmer had
a few scrub horses, and through the
superintendent, as the officer was
called, L was enabled to purchase
steed for horseback exercise.
All this probably seems very lux
urious life for a man supposed to be
dying. But it must be borne in mind
that l had not waited until my disease
had shown itself Indignantly before
withdrew TO the isolation of Molokai.
/ had the same appetite, desires and
energy as a well man would have. l
had even gotten over the lassitude
that l had felt at The Corals. This, of
course, was on account Of the unusual
excitement attendant upon the change,
and would, in time, end in a complete
relapse. But while had the strength