Prague
7 March 1895
MR. JOSE RIZAL
MY VERY DISTINGUISHED SIR,
Your very pleasing letter dated Dapitan, 14 January 1895 has arrived in which you acknowledge the receipt of the little net, the photographs, and the sample butterflies except my book Rhopalocera der Insel Nias, and I request you to please let me know if that little book is already in your possession. If not, I will send you another copy.
With great, very great, pleasure I read that you will have the kindness to order your boys to collect insects. I must add that they can also catch locusts, beetles, and blow-flies which can be wrapped in paper like the butterflies, but they should be sent separately, not mixed with the butterflies. The locusts are killed etc. with alcohol or better with cyanide (cyankali, as we call it here).
I took photographs during my travels in Spain so that in case of the publication of my travel impressions, I could present to the reader some views. A tower more or less twisted does not matter, because the artist can correct such defects in his drawing. And so for me a photograph, even though bad, has more value than any drawing. Traveling horseback I penetrated valleys that are almost uninhabited and I took views of their panoramas never before photographed by the Spaniards.
I return to the twisted tower. It was not the fault of the lens but an error in my position as I could not find a point from where to take the view in a straight line. Here is a sketch:
A wall prevents me [sketch]
from standing [sketch]
farther back [sketch] Tower
Twisted objects are seen thus. [sketch]
A wall [sketch] Tower
3 or 4 meters
from the ground
This is the proper position, but it was impossible.
Are the differences between the Tagalog and Bisayan languages very important?
If you need some books, tell me the titles and with the greatest pleasure I will send them to you.
Awaiting a pretty collection, carefully made, I remain at your command as your most attentive servant who kisses your hand,
Napoleon M. Keihl
Member, Sociedad Española de Historia Natural
P.S.
Mr. Fernando in Leitmeritz was very glad that you had written me.
02-841 [Blumentritt V.2]