en route to Manila
Tossed by tempestuous waves — “I always dream that I remained in Europe . . . .” — Rizal wins the sympathy of his fellow passengers as interpreter — A German passenger, lover of the glories of his Native Country — The Germans are a great nation but they are not first in every aspect — Blumentritt’s children compared to the children in the colonies – Exploitation of colonies a regular topic over dinner.
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Djemnah, 20 July 1887
Dear Friend,
“And it thunders, and it reverberates, and it boils, and it roars . . . .” said the great Schiller in his study room, and I repeat his verses in the salon, ill and seasick, and I hear the sea reverberating and roaring. My God! We have had horrible days after leaving Aden. I stayed two days in the cabin without being able to eat. Almost four-fifths of the passengers were seasick. The waves went over the ship and we had to lash the chairs. One Scotch, who was going to Shanghai, was walking to and fro on deck between the chairs. I too rolled from one side to another and all my books got wet and salted.
I always dream that I remained in Europe; that the ship had left me, that I missed the train, and the like. But in the morning when I wake up, my uneasiness is calmed and I am contented seeing that my dream has not become a reality. I have twenty days more to reach home and I am gladdened by the pleasant thought of being able to see again my parents. I conceive of various plans to surprise them, but I fear that some bad coincidence may spoil them. Let us trust in God.
Tomorrow we shall be in Colombo, the end of the bad part of the voyage. We hope that the sea may be more tranquil.
I consider myself fortunate for having been able to win the consideration and sympathy of my companions in misery. I speak with everybody and at times I serve them as interpreter. At the beginning I always discuss with a young German from Schwerin who is an impenitent fanatic about the glories of his mother country. I do not agree with him in that and I tell him that the Germans indeed constitute a great nation, but it cannot be said that they are the first in every respect. Little by little he became less intransigent and now we are good friends.
We have four children on board, but, how different are they from my little friends of the banks of the Elbe! Almost every hour they are spanked and they scream, etc. Children in the colonies become spoiled because they see brutality early and many servants they can insult, etc. The same thing happens to the children of Spaniards. If I draw a parallel between them and Dora, I say to myself: The colonies of Sumatra and Saigon must be very far from Leitmeritz! I prefer to remain single all my life than to have such children.
At the table, the passengers sometimes talk about colonies, native workers, and the method of exploiting them, and the like. It is rather dismal to hear these conversations and at times I make some curious observations that surprise the colonizers.
The captain is French kindness personified. All of us — Germans, English, French, and Chinese — like him. To see him and like him is the same thing. He consoled us and always gave us false forecasts of the weather in order not to alarm us.
It seems to me a long time has elapsed since I have received letters from you.
Greet the elders in my behalf and kiss for me your good children and may they always enjoy good health like now.
I embrace you.
Yours,
Rizal
02-252 [Blumentritt V.1]