01-001
1876.03.26. Calamba, [Laguna].
José Rizal
TO: Basilia Bauzon de Leyba
[Family/100, Fac.p.1, Transl 2]
Tiring trip to Calamba. Delivery of cacao, proofs of photographs, and a lottery ticket for Saturnina
My dear Lola Illang,[1]
After an exceedingly tiresome trip we arrived at Calamba at eleven o’clock at night. So that you may have an idea how stressful my trip was, I tell you we were detained at Napindan until six o’clock in the evening.[2]
Please receive from José two bags of cacao which are equivalent to twenty-five gantas, that is, one cavan.[3] If the photographers bring you the proof, as you know how to distinguish the good from the bad, you may decide and if you are not sure, you may send it to me. My sister Saturnina requests you to give her a lottery list for the month of December [18]76.
Nothing more, regards to you and my dear aunts and command your obliging and affectionate grandson who loves you.
RIZAL.
[1] Mrs. Basilia Bauzon de Leyba, an elderly relative residing in 3 San Jose, Manila.
[2] In Rizal’s time one went from Manila to Calamba and vice versa on small steamers via the Pasig River. Napindan is the name of the mouth of the Pasig River opening on the lake, that is, Laguna de Bay.
[3] Ganta and cavan are dry measures, still in use. A cavan is equivalent to 75 liters; one cavan is 25 gantas