PENRHYN ISLAND. 



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wants : all this is done gratuitously, and I think seems little esteemed, 

 however strange it may seem, by the natives. I very much doubt the 

 policy of giving their services and medicines free of charge, for the 

 natives are abundantly able to pay, and I make no doubt would do so 

 if they felt they could thus command the services of the physician 

 whenever needed. 



This is a part of the organization of the American Mission that is 

 highly commendable : in no other mission is it found. It not only 

 alleviates the cares of the missionaries themselves, in their families, but 

 adds greatly to their success, and power of doing good. One of the 

 great difficulties in practising medicine among the natives, is their 

 heedlessness and inability to restrain their appetites, both as respects 

 the patients themselves, and their families and friends : they often dis- 

 regard all injunctions as to diet, nor do they exercise any control 

 whatever over the sick. The natives, however, are adepts in alleviating 

 pains, as I myself can testify : the practice of the loomi-loomi seldom 

 fails in assuaging headache and pains in the limbs ; but this is not 

 practised by those who are the disciples of Esculapius. 



Although the Hawaiian Islands have been much vaunted as a resort 

 for invalids, I am not satisfied that it would be beneficial to visit them, 

 unless the person afflicted would, on choosing the most suitable abode 

 for his recovery, confine himself to the circumscribed limits. Few 

 comforts could be looked for, unless the patient were to become an 

 inmate of some one of the missionaries' or respectable residents' 

 houses, where they will be sure to enjoy all the kind attentions and the 

 care of another home. 



PENRHYN ISLAND FISH-HOOKS, ETC. 



