Madame Oliveira, wife of the Governor of Macao, with Sir Robert Ho Tung and other committee members engaged in charity work,
Old culverin in a Macao. fort.
St. Raphael's Hospital, Macao, one of the oldest in the world.
British tommies visiting the old
Cemetery.
English
Tombstone of George Chinnery the painter.
as 1500, the Hospital of St. Raphael. Macao can pride itself, therefore, on possessing a hospital which is almost four hundred years old, where western medical science and surgery were prac- tised on the coast of China and where Chinese became familiar with the gradual development of medicine through the years.
Trade with Japan, Inaugurated by the Fortuguese from Llampo in 1542, be- come an important feature of Macao'a activities, for Macao was the emporium for China's trade with Malaysia, India, and Europe, as well as Japan. Merchants erected their homes in this little bit of Europe in the Far East, ship-building became an Important industrial activity, and fortunes were made.
A city government was set up, the Municipality being established by the old pioneers. The King of Portugal agreed to the granting of a charter, and the city fathers christened the place "City of the Name of God of Amacao". It has passed through many vicissitudes, it was threatened on many an occasion, but it has survived.
EVANGELICAL CENTRE
From all over the world men drifted to Macao. Some came as missionaries, to work in the Vineyard of the Lord, others were officers and men in the,ser- vice of the King of Portugal others were traders. Of the last named there were men of many races. The majority of them were. Chinese or Portuguese, but the names of Japanese, Malaccans, Siamese, Indians, Persians, Armenians, and others have survived. The earliest Briton seems to have been a William Carmichael, who WAL chasing the clusive crock of gold. The story is also told of Judith, the servant maid of an English shipwright and his wife, wreck- ed near Cochinchina. The party arriv- ed in Macao, as refugees, and went away leaving Judith, as orphan girl, to- fend for herself. She was taken care of by the Holy House of Mercy, as their ward. A dowry was provided for her and she married the Treasurer of the Customs House at Malacca.
In this city, priests-learned- Chinese- and other languages before setting out for the mission fields. Here the first printing press and movable types from Europe were set up and books printed as long ago as 1588. From Macao Father Ricci and his companions sallled forth and established the China Mission, which was to render such tremendous service,to the Chinese people, and which was supported with funds subscribed by the Portuguese traders of Macao.
INTERCHANGES WITH CHINA
Historians have been delving into this phase of Portuguese colonisation, and are beginning to realize that it was through Macao that many useful plants found their way into China, principally sweet-potatoes, maize, peanuts, and other American and African foods.
A characteristic form of architecture developed, and some traces of the old buildings still survive, behind long blank walls, in quaint cobbled lanes. Oyster-shell and glass windows were introduced, with new conveniences for habitations and community life, while cups and tumblers, forks and spoons, were to be found on the tables of Macao citizens.
New foods and beverages, such as coffee, cocoa, cheese were used by the settlers, and must have stimulated an interest among the Chinese who first tasted these things in Macao. From their contact with Macao, Chinese trad- ers were able to introduce or popularise many useful articles and many kinds of produce. These must have contributed to the well being of the Chinese, build- ing up new trade demands and stimula- ting new channels of interchange...
The members of the now Western community, in their turn, created do- mands for supplies as well as provisions