The Washington times., 1934-08-03
Extended Tour

Extended Tour
Silent I sat in the suite Of a
modern hotel on the Brooklyn
side and listened while my
friend, Hendrix de Leeuw, just
back from an extended tour Of
the isolated sections of the con-
tinent across the seas, discussed
the famous leper colony. De-
Leeuw is an author of dis
tinction, a humanitarian and
q fascinating weaver of weird
tales. His ordinary converse
ton is like polished prose.
"Now, Surname, stepchild Of
Hollands colonial brood, where
western atrocities that move in
the van of commercial invasion
have left this. beauty spot on
South Americas northeastern
fringe almost untouched, is
probably the most leprous coun-
try in the whole world. There
are three leproSaria in Dutch
Guiana-a Catholic, Protestant
and government institution,
with about 900 inmates in all
three. There must be many
more who keep themselves in
hiding places.
"You and many others would
MT know, as I have found out,
where Dutch Guiana or Surf
name by which name it is bet
ter know, is located on the map.
The Dutch West Indies, espe-
cially Surname, that once were
traded by the Dutch for Nieuw
Amsterdam and a bad real
estate transaction that proved
to be, are coming into their
own. For this place, a long for
gotten child of the vast Dutch
colonial empire, with the open
ing Of the Panama Canal, has
ceased to be a backWater place.
The airplaneS of the Pan-Amer-
ican Always that connect New
York with Buenos Aires in less
time than it takes a crow to fly
the distance, link the tropical
Dutch Guiana with the Ameri-
can world and with the rest of
the beauty spots of the Carib-
bean in fashion undreamed
Of hitherto.
"And ParamaribO is an exotic
spot where negro women, with
as many skirts like loops as
clOthe the quaint fisherwOmen
in Hollands VOlendam, or at
tired in sCrupulOuSly white
Starched dresses, with reef
taken in below the waist, walk
with the swinging gait charac-
teristic of their race. They have
OblOng trays resting flat on
their heads, laden with baskets
of ParamaribO fruits, yams,
plantains, bananas, papayaS and
sweets. Mule carts and donkey
carts rub wheels with motors
and buggieS of the more affIu-
ent tOwnsmen. And over this all
tower stately palms whose
frOnds sway laZily in the tropi-
cal breeze.
"Mynheer Curiel had volun-
teered to take us to Bethesda
at an early hour since then
very much that otherwise would
pain us would be spared. While
Bethesda is practically shut off
from the world, the Catholic
leproSarium is located in Para.
nlaribo proper, where the in
mates can see their people
every day, talking to them
across a little canal bridge be-
yond which a leper, once ad-
mitted can never go across un-
less cured.
"ThGt does not mean that he
cannot leGUe Uhen he desires.
He can, but it DiH mean that
neUer again will he be admitted
to any of the three leprosGrin.
A dangerous measure, however,
as tOGS explained to me, since he
can do more harm through in.
lection, outside, than withi7,.
Although, the doctor explained
to me, the disease is no more
contagious than tuberculosis.
Yet the leperS / passed ON the
grounds and those / ViSited in
their o10n little houses Were er.
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