NOTICES OF MACAO.
Topographical description, &c.
Macao is situated 22d deg. 11 min. 30 sec. north latitude, and 113 deg. 32 min. 30 sec, east of Greenwich, on a rocky peninsula renowned, long before the Portuguese settled on it, for its safe harbor ; then by foreign writers denominated Ama-ngo, port of Ama, in reference to an idol temple near the Bar Fort, the goddess of which is called Ama. In 1583 the Portuguese gave it the name "Porto de nome de Deos," and "Porto de Amacao," the etymology of Ma- cao: later it was also called Cidade do nome de Deos do porto de Macao," at present it is "Cidade do santo nom. de Deos de Macao." The mandarins, I am told, designate the name of the port by the characters Gaou-mun, and that of the city by Gaou-king: Aou-mun is a provincial pronunciation of Gaou-mun. This hilly settlement is dependent on the Hiáng-shán hien, a city of the third class, in the province of Kwang-tung, but separated from the large island, Hiảng- shán, by a wall drawn across the neck of land from shore to shore. Two principal ranges of hills, one runing from south to north, the other from east to west, may be considered as forming an angle, the base of which leans upon the river or anchoring place. Its level ground, with the exception of a few habitations of European architecture, is filled by the Bazar, and a great many Chinese shops for tradesmen and mechanics: the traveller's attention is roused by a variety of public and private buildings, raised on the declivities, skirts and heights of hillocks. On the lofty mount eastward, called Charil, is a fort, enclosing the hermitage of Na. Sra. da Guia; westward is Nil- lau, on the top of which stands the hermitage of Na. Sra. da Penha; entering a wide semi-circular bay, which faces the east, on the right hand, we have the Fort St. Francis; on the left, that of Na. Sra. de Bomparto: and before us, on landing, a broad, airy, spacious quay- Praya Grande," and many pretty houses, among which is the residence of the Governor, and that of the Minister. To the east of the town is a field, Campo," which stretches itself out to the very boundary wall, that closes the prison of Macao. The territory is scarely eight miles in circuit. Its greatest length from north-east to south-west, being under three miles, and its breadidh less than a mile. The Portuguese estimate the Peninsula at a little more than
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