21 March 1887

Berlin

Nostalgic, Rizal longs to go home — He uses “k” instead of “c” in Tagalog orthography — He submits his first book to the critical judgement of Blumentritt — On the social and political status of the Philippines — “Here I answer all the false concepts written against us.” — “And all the insults against the race.” — Rizal was assaulted one night for not having saluted an officer of the civil guard.

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Berlin, 21 March 1887

My dear Sir,

I received your welcome letter and I thank you for all the nice things you tell me in it.

When I was making the drawing, I was very sad because I was all alone and sick and I was longing to go home. I still feel the nostalgia but not as much as before.

Tenants are called Kasamá (ka-sama = to go with) Kailían. I use the “k” in place of the “c” because its usage is simpler; for example, if I use the root kain I do not need to change it in its derivatives which would be the case if I should use “c”; cain, quinain, but not in kain, kinain, kinakain, etc.

You may keep the newspapers and the articles of Quiopquiap[1] that I have sent you. I present them to you as a gift. The newspaper España en Filipinas is written only by Filipinos.

The Tagalog article of Riedel[2] makes me suppose that it was dictated to him not by a Tagalog but by an Ilocano. The Ilocanos speak Tagalog that way. That is probably due to the fact that almost all the servants in Manila are Ilocanos. The word asta (hasta) leads me to think so, because that is a word very much used by the servants in Manila. As you will see, it is not a genuine Tagalog word.

I send you a book; it is my first book,[3] though I have already written much before it and I received some prizes in literary competitions. It is the first impartial and bold book on the life of the Tagalogs. The Filipinos will find in it the history of the last ten years. I hope you will note how different my descriptions [are] from those of other writers. The government and the friars will probably attack the work, refuting my arguments; but I trust in the God of Truth and in the persons who have seen our sufferings at close range. Here I answer all the false concepts which have been formed against us and all the insults which have been intended to belittle us. I hope you will understand it well.

What I say about our superstitions, which are friar-superstitions, is only half of the truth. When I was seventeen years old, they assaulted me and imprisoned me, in spite of being wounded, and they threatened me with banishment, only because one dark night did not take off my hat in passing in front of a lieutenant of the civil guard. I complained to the captain general, but they did not do me justice. It took two weeks for my wound to heal.

Much could be said on that.

My countryman[4] greets you.

I greet you also and I wish you luck and good health.

Your most affectionate friend,

Rizal

02-209 [Blumentritt V.1]