26 August 1888

London

Rizal will annotate Morga’s history of the Philippines — What of the ethnographic map of Mindanao? The book The Chinese Portrayed by Themselves by Tseng-Ki-Tong — The Noli in Spanish “in order to awaken the spirit of my native land from its slumber.”

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37 Chalcot Crescent, Primrose Hill, N.W.

London 26 August 1888

Dear Friend,

I received your two letters and I am glad that you have smoked the cigarettes. I will send you the remainder. What you already have carry the motto, Health and Life and Homage to Noli.

I believe that the decoration of the mouthpiece is in Filipino, but I have not yet seen one like it. In Cuba, so far as I know, they don’t make it; but not being a smoker, I cannot tell you much about the matter.

Don’t send me Weber’s works, because I have already ordered all of them. A thousand thanks!

What do you mean by the “Appendix orientieren der Natur?” [“the appendix of an oriental nature?”] I wish to write annotations to the Morga comparing them with Stanley’s translation. With regard to your work on Mindanao, I don’t know what I ought to do with your ethnographic map. I don’t know if it can be reproduced in Spain; perhaps in Barcelona. Now, how much honorarium do you expect? Mr. Regidor and I have agreed that after he has recovered the cost of printing, we are going to divide the profits — one-half for him and the other half for me. Do you wish to share with me the half that belongs to me?

I have already read the book Les Chinois peints par eux mêmes [The Chinese Portrayed by Themselves] by Tseng-Ki-Tong and I find it very witty. Formerly I thought of writing in French, but I believed it was better to write for my countrymen, because I have to awaken the spirit of my native land from its slumber. The Europeans already have many books and what can I do to counteract the malevolent influence of the numerous books written by the friars, the Spaniards, and others? They will say that it is an Oratio pro domo sua.[1] I have first to give an example to my compatriots, combat their bad qualities, and afterwards, when they are already reformed, then will emerge many writers who can represent my native land before proud Europe, like a young lady who is presented to society after having finished her schooling.

I prefer to wait than to make you order your portrait to be done by another painter. I want precisely a portrait of yours done by that professor.

I find Johannes Scheer very pessimistic. I believe that he regards men from an unfavorable point of view, but in other respects I agree with his opinions.

I cannot accept Balaguer’s opinion. It’s a paradox that leads to fanaticism and semi-despotism. Would it not be more accurate if he had said: “When an entire people, deeply preoccupied, is in error, the error is what is convenient,” instead of saying, “the error is the truth?”

If I remember correctly, I believe that Dr. Czepelack is a smoker. Would you want to give him some cigarettes?

I am very busy my dear, and now I am going to the Museum. Next time I will write you in greater detail.

Greetings,

Rizal

02-327 [Blumentritt V.1]