San Francisco
Unable to disembark from the ship due to quarantine – Effect of American opposition to Chinese immigration – Offered by the Spanish charge d’affaires in Tokyo employment at the Legation – Lived at the Legation to prove he is unafraid – Rizal sent family gifts from Japan – Advices against ever traveling to America – They should write him in London.
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San Francisco, California
“SS. Belgic,” April 29, 1888
My dear Parents:
Here we are in sight of America since yesterday, without being able to disembark, placed under quarantine owing to the 642 Chinese we have aboard, coming from Hong Kong where, it is said, smallpox is rampant. But the real reason is that, as America is opposed to Chinese immigration and as they are having elections now, the administration to obtain the people’s vote appears strict on the Chinese, and we are suffering. On board nobody is sick.
I left Yokohama on the 13th of this month, leaving behind Japan, for me very pleasant, in spite of the proposition of the charge d’affaires of Spain who offered me an employment in the Legation even at a monthly salary of $100. Under other circumstances I would have accepted it, but at this moment it would be madness. Our trip which lasted 15 days and hours during which we had two consecutive Thursdays, because we travelled in opposite direction to the sun, has been quite good: at least for me because never before had I sailed such a long distance without becoming seasick. The food is bad and tiresome.
Through the Minister or the charge d’affaires of Spain, you will receive two serving sets for tea and coffee which I expressly ordered for our family of the best that is made in Japan. The tea set is of faience in the old Kioto style; and the tea[1] set is of porcelain. To the connoisseur they are the best. According to the charge d’affaires these will reach you free of cost, through the Government. Also I am sending two doors, very beautiful, the most rare, which I give as a gift to my brother, Sr. Paciano, who can make of them elegant furniture. The charge d’affaires himself will deal with my brother and will write him a letter. I hope that my brother will become his friend because he will be very useful to him the day he wants to export his products to, Japan. Do not forget to answer him.
At the request of the same gentleman I went to live in the very legation with him and the other members, to prove to them that I fear neither vigilance nor observation nor suspicion of any sort. As I have the firm conviction that I am acting right and that I am in the hands of God who has guided and helped me always, I have feared nothing and I succeeded in becoming a friend of these gentlemen. They, however, made a sad prediction for me: they told me that in the Philippines I will be forced to become a filibustero.
I do not advise anyone to make a trip to America, for here they have these absurdities of quarantine and strict customs inspection, that on anything they impose tax after tax, enormous, enormous.
Before I left Japan I sent you 10 combs to be distributed among my sisters. Likewise I suppose that you have already received the vaccine as well as the portrait of my poor sister Olimpia.
Write me in London, 12 Billiter Street. Give me news about the family and the question of the hacienda, which I want to take up actively.
Nothing more, I wish that you keep yourselves well until we see each other, which I expect to happen soon.
I kiss your hand affectionately.
JOSE RIZAL
02-291 [Blumentritt V.1]
[1] Rizal might have meant coffee.