5 March 1890

Brussels
From: Jose Rizal
To: Dr. A.B. Meyer

The use of hashish in the Philippines – The Filipinos drank, arak, nipa-palm and coconut wine and chewed buyo before the coming of the Spaniards – Opium was introduced later.

* * *
38 Rue Philippe de Champagne, Brussels

5 March 1890

DR. A. B. MEYER

MY DISTINGUISHED FRIEND,

I received your letter of the 27th of last month and excuse me for not having answered you before this, for I have had to consult some countrymen and books concerning your question about the hashish.[1]

No book, no historian that I know of speaks of any plant whose use is similar to that of the hashish. I myself, though in 1879 I used hashish, did it for experimental purposes and I obtained the substance from my drugstore. I did not believe that its use had been introduced either before or after the arrival of the Spaniards. The Filipinos drank arak, nipa-palm and coconut wine, etc. and they chewed buyo before the arrival of the Spaniards, but not hashish.

Neither is a word resembling it found in the language. This is is or asis is a kind of wild fig-tree.

If I had Fr. Blanco’s Flora, I could find out if this plant exists. I believe therefore that its use is unknown. Opium was introduced only after the arrival of the Spaniards. We Tagalogs call it apian.

I am here at Brussels at your disposal as always. If you could give me an introduction to some employee of the library, I would appreciate it.

Most affectionately yours,

RIZAL

Note:

Haschisch – Cannabis Indica. The opinion of Dr. Rizal is shared by the illustrious botanist Dr. Leon Ma. Guerrero. This drug has been used in India since very remote times for its aphrodisiac property and in China as medicine since the fifth century before the Christian era. Its effects on the brain if wonderfully explained by the creator of the legend of Chateau d’If (Castle of If) in one of his chapters.

(Note of Dia Filipino.)

02-511 [Blumentritt V.2]