The Isle of Lepers.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3075, 8 December 1888, Page 3

The Isle of Lepers.

Father Conrady, who recently went out, from .America to join Fatfm: Damien in bis work among tholpjrs of Hawaii stationed in the island of Molakai, gives a terriblo account of- his surroundings iu a 'Jotter which is published in the Tablet. Hjjf says :~The''portion ofllolakaf the lepers occupy is about three miles long, and half or three-quarters of a wile wido; ,a porfoct place of seclusion, for if tho poor lepers thought of escaping very few of them could do so, as very, high cliffs separate us from the other part of the island—so liigh that clouds most of the time covor their tops. As for leprosy, I don't tbiuk it can be avoided if it is contagious by contact 0/ by inhalation for any one who lives among •them comes in contact' with them in'' a thousand ways. 1.. believe there is no more possibility of remaining unebntaminated than for a man to live in a fire and never, get burned. We have now some eighty boys. I am'most of the time with them, and live iu .the sumo house with Father Damien, wlip, as you know, is affected w\'J pfdißeaso. Hie disease' lias ,a ptfjjjjjar smell, very offensive. In the beglming. the sight of poor Father Damien, whose ears, neck, face and hands are quite bad, was enough 'to take my appetite away, and I was troubled with continual, headacho, but now I feel I am used to those little inconveniences,". , •

dgf Since Father Conrardy's arrival ninety lepers had died in the island. 'The week bofofe he wroto as many as eleven died -in one day .1