The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-08-12

a time. A stranger seeing a gang of
Kanakas unloading n ship would imagine
that they were the most energetic of
mortals, for they can and do work hard
by spurts, but the incentive TO effort
always lies in the prospective spell Of
dolce far niente. The educated native
seeks clerical employment or engages in
some branch of trade, but seldom with
success. In neither capacity can he COM
pete with the Chinaman, who is alto
gether his superior, more efficient and
more reliable. The Kanaka Is n thorough
child Of nature, following the lines of
least resistance and dallying with the
simple pleasures that delight his heart
He lives the lilies of the field, a harm
less, useless, but picturesque figure, and
perhaps the kindest fate that can befall
him is to be permitted to drift In his own
happy fashion of world which has
no longer place for him.
The Hawaiians very susceptible
to contagious diseases, and when leprosy
was introduced by the Chinese in 1853,
1t Immediately took root and spread rap
idly among the natives They do not en-
teltain any fear of the disease and sell
dom take any precautions to avoid con-
tact with sufferers. Indeed, the work
the Discrimination of families to have
leprous members taken away from their
homes. The disease has been vigorously
combatted ever since its Introduction TO
the islands. The authorities believe thar.
at present it Is completely under control
and that 1t will be stamped out in this
geneI alton. There are very few, if any,
infected persons at large in the territory.
N 1914 tho small
peninsula at the northern end of the Is
land of Molokai as a leper settlement.
This neck of land which is called Kali
awao, is cut Off the inner side by q
precipice more than two thousand feet
In height. 1t was amongst the oathsome
Inhabitants of this reservation that the
sanity Father Damien labored for 10
years, and in their midst he died OF the
foul disease that links them together.
Everything possible is done for the COM
fort OF the unfortunate wretChes who are
forever cut off from the world from the
moment they set foot on Kalawao. They
ore well housed and fed and have
churches clubrooms and libraries. Govern
ment physicians visit them at regular inter
walls. but strangers are rarely allowed &C
cess TO the peninsula. and mere curiosity
hunters are rigidly excluded. The colony
at present numbers somewhat more than
1000 souls Ninety five per cent. are ma
tives; three ffths OF the remainder
Chinese. and fewer than 20. whites. The
average life Mt kalawao Is less than five
years, and the lepers seldom suffer much
physical pain. The mental anguish Of
these miserable outcasts Is probably great
er than we can conceive. Some of them
have been persons OF wealth and refine
ment. There a notable case of n rich
Hawaiian. who, suspeCting that he was
contaminated, submitted himself to the
health officers for examination. They de-
cded that he was Il leper, and this ma
tive. with a noble sense OF duty. calmly
accepted the verdict and proceeded 10
kalawao. where he devoted the remain
der of his life and his ample means to
the amelioration of the suffering OF his
fellow prisoners
The Portuguese, who came originally as
laborcrs In the cane fields are now for
the most part engaged in the cultivation
OF coffee on their own account. They
are very thrifty, and it is their practice
to MAKE every member Of the family
earn wage In this way most OF them
saved sufficient money to purchase n
small patch of land and start n coffee
PLANTATION. The Portuguese keep pretty
much 10 themselves. and take little part
in the social and political life Of the
islands.
The Japanese are the most numerous
| OF the many natiOnaltties that make up
the population Of Hawaii. On this ac-
count, and because OF their aggressive
ness. they are the subject OF great
| deal OF concern the part OF the
whites, many OF whom express the fear