The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-11-04
DR., COFER'S
MOLOKA|
REPORT
Face to Face Sur:
vey of Hawaii's
Lepers.
A TREATISE OF
MUCH INTEREST
Sights on the Island of the
Doomed-Precautions Taken
by the Visitors.

w dSAliAS LOl Gbdif OCt- Ao-y
A MOST interesting account of az
IN inspection of the leper settlement
A on the island of MoIokai, Hawaii
has been made 70 the marine hospital
service by l.. Z. Cofer, chief quaran-
tine officer of the Hawaiian Islands
The visit was made during the month
of September on the invitation of the
Hawaiian territorial board of health.
II IS explained that the board of health
makes regularly an annual visit to the
settlement, and as everything is arrang-
ed beforehand for this inspection DR..
Cofer explains that one is able to see
and learn more in one day in following
them in their Investigations than would
be possible in a week under ordinary
circumstances. In DR.. Cofer's narrative
arcount of the trip he says:
We left Honolulu at D. m. OF Sep
tember 6. and arrived at Kalaupapa
about Z O'Clock the following morning.
The Ieper settlement is located upon or
may be said in a general way To COM
prise a tongue-shaped peninsula, which
juts out into the ocean from about the
center of the northern coast of Molo-
kai This tongue Of land is shut off
from the rest of the island by a noun
tain range, which extends east and west
along the northern coast, and which
presents to the sea and also to the
ieper settlement a series of bold precipi-
tous and rugged cliffs, which rise to
elevations varying from 1900 to 5000
feet. The steamer approaches the pen
ing the observer an excellent idea of
the relation which it bears to the rest
Of the island. Indeed, the sight in the
early morning is a very impressive one.
As the sun rises. the peninsula Is
thrown into a shadow, and the lofty
cliffs are brought into bold relief. The
huge burrows on the face of the preci-
pice soon come into view. causing one
FOR the moment the vagary that it too
has assumed leonine countenance aft
er It's many years of vigil over the un-
fortunates below and against the escape
of whom ii has ever formed a most
discOuraging barrier. AS the steamer
draws nearer, the pretty little town of
kalaupapa comes into view. At dis
lance it looks like any prosperous little
town, but when the anchor is dropped
one is near enough to see the white
rounded in most instances by stone or
lava fences inclosing yards planted with !
tropical fruits and flowers. 1 was re- |
minded of a summer resort / had seen
somewhere. The shore is lined with
large rocks, and. on account of the al ,
most constant nOrtherIy swell, is rather /
dangerous to approach .seyen in a small ,
boat. which, by the way, is the only
means of making landing There
We're at least 400 Iepers. the greater
part Of them gaily dressed and decorat-
sd with flowers Qeis). gathered at the
landing TO meet us. The leper band was
playing, and things in general took on F.;
the appearance of country fair.
The crowd had gathered both in an 1
licipatiOn OF the visit OF the board of
health and to greet their friends and
relatives Who had made the trip with
US was Immediately struck by the
fact that while 1 saw a number of dis
torted faces. indeed some even i'll
condition, did not see an un-
happy one. / saw several Iepers with .
heir faces furrowed and distorted be &
-ond recognition. wearing white duck 5
trousers and straw hats OF the most +
modern shape. these latter adorned as I
5 almost inevitable in Hawaii. with
leis.' Notwithstanding the incongruity 4.
# this combination OF Hawaiian holi- J.
lay dress and leprosy. one could not /;
,ut admire the hopeful and cheerful 7
ysy in which these poor people resigned a
themselves 70 their fate. BE il said TO n
he credit of some one that such con- |
eminent can only thrive on COM !
ortable mode OF life and good treat
neHt
A BEAUTIFUL SPOT
rrl.f /,
quare miles being only very small <
'8rt Of the Island of MolOkai with its
Iroa OF 261 square miles. mention this
.rcaEse q great many nave tCe iTpreS-