7. Rizal, Berlin, 22 November l886 | |
Waitz, Anthropology of Primitive Peoples - Unity of the human race - Translation of Schiller's and Andersen's stories sent to his nephew. - I will make use of the Royal Library for the study of the history of my native country - Chamisso's work and his adventure with a friar = "We are like two blind and deaf men: We converse without seeing or hearing each other." - An exhibition of Igorots at the Zoological Garden in Madrid. | |
Jaegerstrasse 71, Berlin 22 November 1886 | |
Very esteemed Professor, I received your letter a week ago, but I could not answer you at once while the Royal Library has not informed me if it has the work of Waitz-Gerland and Wallace. Finally it gave me today Waitz' Anthropology of Primitive Peoples and I hasten to ask you if this is the book I need. It deals only with the unity of the human race, if I am not mistaken. The names of Gerland and Wallace are not mentioned in it. I asked also for the work at the municipal library of Leipzig, but I was told that it cdid not have any, so that I could not translate the famous chapter. Please give me the exact title so that I can begin soon the translation. I already sent home the tragedies of Schiller and Andersen's stories for my nephew. I want also to do something for science and the history of my native country. I can do that very well at the Royal Library. I knew already the work that Chamisso brought from the Philippines. I read his poems, his account of his trip, and his adventure with a friar, the only rude man he saw in the Philippines. I agree with the poet and you, esteemed Professor, will soon have the same opinion. I will look for the books as soon as I have the titles. Here there is no catalogue for the public, but it is enormously cheap to be able to use a library for 25 pfennigs. I cannot visit Messrs. Jagor and Virchow because neither do I know them nor do I have anything to give or say to them. So I would not wish to bother them. I thank you in advance for your photograph. I have no picture of myself now and I am so timid that I don't dare have myself photographed; but I will think about it. I'mm waiting for your picture. Now we are like two blind and deaf men. We converse without seeing or hearing each other; this is the mutum, caecumque sermo.[1] Don't mind the Philippine Exposition in Madrid. According to the newspapers and the information I have, it will not be a Philippine Exposition but an Exhibition of Igorots, who will play their musical instruments, cook, sing, and dance. But I pity this poor people. They will be exhibited in the Zoological Garden of Madrid and with their simple original apparel they will catch a dreadful pneumonia. This sickness is very frequent in Madrid and even the Madrid people catch it in spite of their covering. Greetings to you and your lady. I need not reiterate that I am always at your service.
| |
Most affectionately, Rizal | |
[1] Mute and blind conversation. Rizal corrected this Latin phrase in his next letter to Blumentritt (No. 9). It should read: mutorum caecorumque sermo.
|
[Rizal-Blumentritt Correspondence] [Culture and History] [Austrian-Philippine Homepage] | ||
Document created: July 30, 1996 updated: March 20, 1998 APSIS Editor Johann Stockinger |