"Tahiti a disparu dans un grain. Même pas l'apothéose lumineuse attendue."

Autograph letter signed by Victor Segalen addressed to Emile Mignard. Three and a half pages written in black ink on a double sheet. Transverse fold inherent to the mailing.
Emile Mignard (1878-1966), also a doctor and from Brest, was one of Segalen's closest childhood friends whom he met at the Jesuit college Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, in Brest. The writer maintained with this companion an abundant and closely followed correspondence in which he described with humor and intimacy his daily life in the four corners of the globe. It was at Mignard's wedding, on February 15, 1905, that Segalen met his wife, Yvonne Hébert.
Segalen's last Polynesian letter written from Nouméa: « La traversée usuelle, monotone, bien que rapide (13 jours) entre Tahiti-Nouméa, mon bien cher Emile. » ["The usual, monotonous crossing, though rapid (13 days) between Tahiti-Nouméa, my dear Emile."] He relates his last moments on Tahitian soil: « Derniers jours chargés, comme tu penses, avec des après-midi échevelés de paquets, promenades dernières, désirs ultimes de revoir encore et encore des sites familiers et des visages amis ; et des nuits blanches ; j'étais finalement éreinté à souhait et volontairement, quand je me suis embarqué. » ["Last busy days, as you can imagine, with frantic afternoons of packing, final walks, ultimate desires to see again and again familiar sites and friendly faces; and sleepless nights; I was finally exhausted as desired and voluntarily, when I embarked."] After almost two years on the island, Segalen does not seem to feel sorrow at the idea of returning to his metropolitan life: « Tahiti a disparu dans un grain. Même pas l'apothéose lumineuse attendue. Mais, aux cours des longues siestes à la mer, le souvenirs hâtifs du départ ont fait place à ceux exquis et lents, des deux années mortes. Maintenant, dispos et en train, j'inhume après embaumement mes souvenirs figés ; je flaire et désire, au retour une vie très, très active. » ["Tahiti disappeared in a squall. Not even the expected luminous apotheosis. But, during the long naps at sea, the hasty memories of departure have given way to the exquisite and slow ones, of the two dead years. Now, alert and in good form, I bury after embalming my frozen memories; I scent and desire, upon return, a very, very active life."]