Dapitan
He is thinking of colonizing Ponot on the coast – As he will be in the forest, he is asking for his library – In Ponot one can have four or five thousand cattle and 40,000 coconut trees.
* * *
Dapitan, 10 April 1895
MR. JOSE MA. BASA
MY VERY ESTEEMED FRIEND MR. PEPE,
I am writing you this as I am determined for the present to remain on this Island of Mindanao and the governmet might accede to my petition and therefore I shall remain here forever. I am planning to colonize Ponot on the coast of this island and if the government grants me advantages or privileges, it will be very easy to begin the work next June. Therefore, as I shall be in the forest among half-civilized people, I should like to have my library with me. I beseech you for this reason to have my books ready because if the government will permit their free entry, I should like to have them in the month of June when I shall have a suitable house. I hope that the governor general will grant me permission one of these days, for I asked him for it more than a month ago.
In Ponot one can have four or five thousand cattle and plant some 40,000 coconut trees, etc. it has a good port, water, plain, etc.
With nothing more and wishing that you may have no mishap during the present black plague, I am ever your attentive servant and affectionate friend.
JOSE RIZAL
02-849 [Blumentritt V.2]