Hawaii — page 37: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

28 DEATH OF CAPTAIN COOK—MISSIONARIES. malice whatever to the white man, though we brought them small pox, intoxication and evil diseases, and their numbers have decreased so rapidly since our advent as to be now nearly extinct. On the island of Molokai are five churches, hospitals—Roman Catholics and Protest- - ants are equally numerous—and houses for the lepers. As a rule the lepers do not suffer great pain, and the average length of life at Molokai is four years, after which time the disease generally strikes some vital spot. Women are less liable to contract it than men. One woman went with her leprous husband to Molokai, and when he died she married another, and at his death an- other. In all she had four husbands, and yet remained healthy. Father Damien felt very strongly that it was not right to part man and wife. He said to do so gave the sufferers pains and agonies far greater to bear than the disease itself. And when they ceased to care, it was worse still, for they plunged into a reckless, vicious life. When Father Damien reached Molokai he found an island full of natural beauties. The cliffs are tall and straight, and are generally in shadow, but the sun casts long warm rays amongst them. ‘The surf is high, and makes great banks of mist. There are many beautiful birds, and quantities of wild flowers. _ Women and men alike ride astride little ponies, and one can often see the inhabitant sitting in his little door, chatting with his neighbor, or pounding the taro root to make it into the favorite food poi. Father Damien, when he arrived at Molokai, found the practice of distilling drink was carried on to a large degree. The native who comicbooks.com —