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Miscellaneous Letters Exchanged Between José Rizal and Others in July to December, 1894 |
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Miscellaneous Letters Exchanged Between José Rizal and Others in July to December, 1894 |
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122. S. Knüttel, Stuttgart, 16 July 1894 Requesting information on volcanic eruptions - or signs of activity, such as earthquake or clouds of smoke of some volcano – Eagerly seeking Rizal's collaboration.
123. Rizal, Dapitan, 31 July 1894 || To Dr. Adolph B. Meyer Rizal congratulates Dr. Meyer on his excellent article on the Negritos - Birds and other animals - Would like a mathematics book in French in exchange - Study of the Subanos, Moros, and mountain tribes - Anthropometric data - Case of instruments of craniometry - Thanks for mentioning him in an ethnographic work - the Tagalog grammar is finished - Comparative' dictionary of dialects - Friend Mr. Kunstscherff – Explanation of the bamboo case of Joest.
124. Rizal, Dapitan, 26 October 1894 || To Adolph B. Meyer List of butterflies collected by Rizal in Dapitan for Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, 26 October 1894.
125. Napoleon M. Keihl, Prague, 3 November 1894 Rizal's admirer - Calls him "noble representative of colonial Spain" - Asks Rizal for Mindanao butterflies - Two nets for catching Lepidoptera - Will write on Mindanao fauna.
126. Napoleon M. Keihl, Prague, 4 November 1894 Small net for catching butterflies are sent under separate cover.
127. Rizal, Dapitan, 21 November 1894 || To Dr. Adolph B. Meyer Rizal sends Dr. Meyer birds and other animals and a Subano knife - New species of butterflies - He says he may be transferred to Ilocos or La Union.
128. Dr. Reinhold Rost, London, 7 December 1894 Glad to have tidings of Rizal - Has corresponded with Retana and reviewed his publications -- At 73 he has to work to add something to his meager pension - Asks Rizal to write on the dialects spoken in Mindanao for publication in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society.
–— 122. S. Knüttel, Stuttgart, 16 July 1894 Requesting information on volcanic eruptions - or signs of activity, such as earthquake or clouds of smoke of some volcano – Eagerly seeking Rizal's collaboration. Stuttgart, 16 July 1894 Dr. José Rizal Dapitan Sir, Please accept my sincere thanks for your kind reply of 5th June to my letter of 24 April. I believe as you say that you have not made a special study of geology and I know also that at this moment you are quite far from the active volcanoes of Mindanao and even more from those volcanoes in other islands of the Philippines. Nevertheless, Sir, you are much nearer them than I am. That means to say that you have certainly an opportunity to receive frequently certain news if some volcano begins to erupt or give signs of activity either through some earthquake to which it can be attributed or through the emission of clouds of smoke, etc. etc. You understand that it is exceedingly rare for newspapers to give such information and you understand enough geology to know how important that is to one gathering data for a future history of volcanoes. That is the reason, Sir, why I request you -- convinced now of your good will by your kind letter -- to please furnish me with such information from time to time if it will be convenient to you, and I shall be very grateful to you in the name of science and in my own. My report on the activity of volcanoes for the year 1893 will soon be out in German in an Austrian mineralogical and petrographic [dealing with the description and classification of rocks and minerals - rly] journal Please be kind enough to let me know if you read German and if you wish me to send you a copy of my work which I shall do with genuine pleasure. In reiterating my thanks for your kind reply, I remain. Sir, Your respectful servant, S. Knüttel Kernerstrasse, No. 12
===== 123. Rizal, Dapitan, 31 July 1894 || To Dr. Adolph B. Meyer Rizal congratulates Dr. Meyer on his excellent article on the Negritos - Birds and other animals - Would like a mathematics book in French in exchange - Study of the Subanos, Moros, and mountain tribes - Anthropometric data - Case of instruments of craniometry - Thanks for mentioning him in an ethnographic work - the Tagalog grammar is finished - Comparative' dictionary of dialects - Friend Mr. Kunstscherff – Explanation of the bamboo case of Joest. Dapitan, 31 July 1894 Dr. A. B. Meyer My dear friend Dr. Meyer, It was impossible for me to answer your letter and thank you for your excellent work on the Negritos [members of dark-skinned peoples of short stature living in Oceana and South-east Asia – rly] sooner because the package was not delivered to me on the same day of the arrival of the boat. Thanks then and I congratulate you on the success of your excellent work. This time I send you through Mr. Schadenberg a box containing three birds, one head of a wild deer, the skin and skeleton of a tingaog, a kind of cat that produces musk, a fish, and some insects. Their names are written on them. I leave to you to estimate their value: if they seem to you worth anything, send me books for them; and if not, we remain friends as ever. I should like to have a treatise on Mathematics in French. I beg you to let me know always if the remittances arrive there in good condition. I await anxiously my liberty so that I can live a few weeks among the Subanos [a Philippine tribal group of Malay origin. - rly], the mountaineers, and Moros [Islamic inhabitants of the Philippines. - rly] of this island. I am convinced that there is still much to be studied. Count on a good remittance of heads for anthropology. If you think that I can still have a small case of instruments of craniometry [used in the measurement of skulls. - rly] for my birds, fishes, etc., I should prefer it certainly. An interesting study of the Mindanao races could be useful. Many thanks for having mentioned me in your work. I have finished my Tagalog grammar. When I shall be free, I will publish it. I am planning to prepare a grand dictionary of the languages or dialects of the Philippines. A comparative dictionary of these languages with texts in English, French, or Spanish would be desirable. But for this I need my library which is in Hong Kong. My regards to our dear and good friend Mr. Kunstscherff. With reference to the famous bamboo of Mr. [Wilhelm] Joest, permit me not to share entirely your opinion. It seems to me that the bamboo really is used for keeping papers, for even now the same thing is found in Zamboanga [A city on the island of Mindanao. - rly]. The bamboos for keeping lime, betel, etc. are a little larger and are generally made of horn. For this reason I suppose that the bamboos of Mr. [Wilhelm] Joest are the remains of two bamboos which seem broken and that is the reason why they do not fit together. I agree with you entirely with regard to the designs: They are wholly decorative. I have been promised similar bamboos. You'll have one. I greet you affectionately, José Rizal
===== 124. Rizal, Dapitan, 26 October 1894 || To Adolph B. Meyer List of butterflies collected by Rizal in Dapitan for Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, 26 October 1894. 08 Phos senticosus L 01 Triton (persona) anus. L (Dolorosa) 04 Ranella rana. L 10 Nassa arcularia L 04 Nassa (niotha) genunulata Luck 04 Nassa (niotha) verrucosa A. Ad. 25 Nassa (arcularia) thersites Brug. 05 Nassa (alectryon) monile. Kieu.] 02 Nassa (Zeuxis) taenia Cinel. 06 Pyramidella terebellus Mull. 04 Cancellaria asperella Luck 02 Cancellaria crenifera Sow. 04 Cancellaria lamellose. Hinds. 01 Natica ala-papilionis Chemu. 01 Natica (neverita) ampla Phil. Var bicolor Phil. 05 Cerithium vertagus L. 01 Cerithium pbeliscus Brug. 02 Potamides fluviatilis Pot. 01 Pptamides sulcatus Brug. 01 Cassis areola L. 02 Cassis pila Reeve. 05 Dolium variegatum Lam. 02 Dentalium Spee. 01 Tapes textris Chemu. 01 Anaitis calophylla. Phil.
===== 125. Napoleon M. Keihl, Prague, 3 November 1894 Rizal's admirer - Calls him "noble representative of colonial Spain" - Asks Rizal for Mindanao butterflies - Two nets for catching Lepidoptera - Will write on Mindanao fauna. Prague, 3 November 1894 Mr. José Rizal Very Distinguished Sir, My friend Don Fernando [01] of Leitmeritz gave me your address. He spoke to me so much about you, he showed me your publications, your magnificent sculptures, in a word, and he made me your admirer, in such a way that in writing you (with your permission) I could treat you as an old acquaintance of mine. And what attracts me most towards you is that, being a lover of Spain, I see in you a noble representative of colonial Spain. I am very sorry that until now it is not possible for me to leave Europe and see that tropical paradise of which I dreamed in my youth. I know fairly well European Spain indeed. This year, 1894, I made my sixth trip to the mountain ridge of Cuenca (between Aragon and Castilla) and of Guadalupe. As I took along with me a small camera, I send you enclosed some views I took. They are: 1. Valley of the Jucar River in the mountain ridge; 2. Valley near Cuenca; and 3. The Church of the Geronimitos in Guadalupe. In my trip I look for and catch butterflies, locusts, and blowflies to complete my entomological [insect - rly] collection that includes species from all over the world. In 1884 I published in German a treatise on the butterflies of the Island of Nias, which lies near Sumatra. I have the honor to send you, my very distinguished Sir, a copy of my work. My other publications are scattered in various entomological periodicals. My friend Mr. Fernando must have already told you that I should like to have a number of Mindanao butterflies. Some weeks ago I received from Hofrath Meyer of Dresden a small collection of samples that I owe to your kindness, my dear Sir. They were 31 samples with pins that arrived in bad condition. Of course, the handling of butterflies requires a certain attention. The principal thing is to catch other fresh samples whose wings are not in the least flayed. It is also necessary to have good nets. And once caught the butterflies are not held down with pins but placed in paper bags. I take the liberty right now to send you in a little tin box: (1) Two nets and (2) some paper bags of various sizes, by way of sample, filled with natural butterflies, though damaged ones. The paper bags are for the purpose of showing how the butterflies are inserted in them. I request you to please have some of your assistants make me a collection of Mindanao butterflies so that I can publish a Fauna of Mindanao similar to the Fauna of Nias. By way of a little experiment you can return to me this little box filled with any kind of butterflies in paper bags, caught with one of the nets. I shall pay you or send you the payment in any form you like for all the expense incurred and all that I owe you. Basis of equivalence: 25 samples in good condition are worth one duro (five pesetas). I am addressing these lines across the sea, almost to the antipodes [exact opposite (Prague being geographically a polar opposite of Dapitan) - rly]. These lines will reach your hands, God willing, at the end of this year. For this reason, I already felicitate you in advance; may the next year be very profitable to you, may the relations between Dapitan and Prague grow in 1895 I remain your most devoted servant who kisses your hand. Napoleon M. Keihl Remittance: 1. Photograph
2. Book, Butterflies of Nias, under
separate cover. 5. Papers with butterflies. _______________ [01] Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt
===== 126. Napoleon M. Keihl, Prague, 4 November 1894 Small net for catching butterflies are sent under separate cover. POSTCARD Prague, 4 November 1894 Dr. José Rizal Dapitan Mindanao Philippine Islands Very distinguished Sir, The post office did not accept the little tin box for excess weight [see letter # 125 - rly]. I had to remove the nets and send them under separate cover. So that you will receive: (1) A letter with photographs: (2) the little box with butterflies; (3) the nets; and (4) one book, Rhopalocera [a classification used with butterflies - rly]. All registered. I remain your most devoted servant who kisses your hand. Napoleon M. Keihl
===== 127. Rizal, Dapitan, 21 November 1894 || To Dr. Adolph B. Meyer Rizal sends Dr. Meyer birds and other animals and a Subano knife - New species of butterflies - He says he may be transferred to Ilocos or La Union. Dapitan, 21 November 1894 Dr. A. B. Meyer My dear Doctor and esteemed Friend, This time I have the pleasure to send you a box containing different kinds of birds, a Subano [01] knife that is rather dear, butterflies, insects, snakes, etc. It is very difficult for me to catch butterflies without spoiling them, for my boys are not yet skilled in the art. [02] However, I shall try to collect all the insects that fall into my hands. I am glad to know that you have found new species among those I have sent you. The Governor General [03] has informed me that he will send me to another province where life will be a little more comfortable for me. He has spoken to me of Ilocos and La Union. I do not know if once in Vigan I can still be useful to you, for it is a very well-known province and Mr. Schadenberg lived there for a long time. I wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and I remain as always, dear Doctor and Friend, your faithful servant José Rizal _______________ [01] Subano – A tribal group in Mindanao. [02] Rizal and his students would go into the jungles to collect specimens. His teaching methods of learning by doing are advanced not only for his day but ours. [03] Governor General Blanco did not fulfill his promise.
===== 128. Dr. Reinhold Rost, London, 7 December 1894 Glad to have tidings of Rizal - Has corresponded with Retana and reviewed his publications -- At 73 he has to work to add something to his meager pension - Asks Rizal to write on the dialects spoken in Mindanao for publication in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. The original letter is in English. 1 Elsworth Terrace, Primrose Hill London, N.W. 7 December 1894 Mr. José Rizal My Dear Dr. Rizal, We were all very glad to have tidings of you, and still cling to the hope to see you here again at no distant date. The gentleman whom you introduced in your letter has not yet communicated with me. I have lately had a good deal of correspondence with Mr. W. E. Retana [Wenceslao E. Retana was once a fierce opponent of Rizal in the employ of the friars who paid him to write for their causes. He was later to become Rizal’s admirer and, at Rizal’s death, wrote the first major biography of Rizal, Vida y Escritos del Dr. José Rizal - rly], whose publications on the Philippine Islands, I have reviewed. You will be glad to learn that Adolf has taken a studio in Newman Street (close to Oxford Street) and is getting on in his profession. He has had several commissions for marble busts. His brother has passed his final examinations for surgery and midwifery, and will go in for his final for medicine in January. If he passes that, he will probably seek employment as ship's doctor on board a steamer. Little Min keeps house, paints and sings, and attends to her invalid mother. As for myself, I informed you in my last letter how badly I have been treated by the Indian Government in requital for my long and faithful and disinterested services. In order to earn something in addition to my meager pension, I have to work harder in my 73 year than I have done since my school days: and my eyesight is beginning to fail me. Could you not employ your enforced leisure in writing some treatises about the various vernaculars spoken in Mindanao and their relations to Tagalog and Bisaya? I could get them printed for the journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. We all send you our best remembrance and wishes for your health and welfare. Ever sincerely yours, R. Rost
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RIZAL'S LIFE |
RIZAL'S WRITINGS |
KIDS REFLECTIONS |
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