Directory_and_Chronicle_1879 — Page 277

MACAO.

Macao is situated in 22 deg. 11 min. 30 sec. N. lati ude, and 113 deg. 32 min. 30 sec. E. longitude, on a rocky peninsula, renowned, long before the Portuguess settled on it, for its safe harbour for junks and small vessels. The Portuguese, who had already settled on the island of Lampacao, and frequented for trading purposes Chin-chew, Lianpo, Tamnao, and San-choan (Sr. John's island, where St. Francis Xavier died) first took up their residence at Macao in 1557. Soon after their arrival pirates and adventurers from the neighbouring islands continually molested them. The Chinese authorities were powerless to cope with thes: marauders, who went so far as to blockade the port of Canton. The Portuguese manned and armed a few vessel and succeded in raising the blockade of Canton and clearing the seas. The town of Macao soon afterwards began to rise, and during the eighteenth century tra le flourished wonderfully, the difficulty of residence at Canton greatly contributing towards it. The East India Company and the Dutch Company had establishments there.

Historians are divided in opinion as to whether the possession of Macao by the Portuguese is due to Imperial bounty or to right of conques. There can te no doubt, however, that it was held at a rental of 500 taels a year until Governor Ferreira do Amaral in 1848 refused to pay it any longer and forcibly drove out the Hoppo or Chinese Custom-house, and with it every vestige of Chinese authority. This bold stroke cost him his life in August, 1849, for he was waylaid and barbarously mur- dered near the Barrier of Porta do Cerco and his head was taken to Canton. the Chinese troops at the Barrier showing fight and wassing in great numbers, the Portuguese troops bravely alvanced, took the fort of Passaleão, and drove the Chinese from their positions.

On

The settlement is separated from the large island of H-ang-shan by a wall diawn across the neck of land from shore to shore. Two principal range of bills, one running 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. The public and private buil·lings, a cathedral, an several churches, are raised on the declivities, skirts, and heights of Lillocks. On the lofty mount eastward, called Charil, is a fort, enclosing the hermitage of Na. Sra. de Gua, and westward is Nillau, on the top of which stands the bermitage of Na. Sra. de Penha; entering a wide semi-circular bay, which faces the east, on the right hand stan is the fort San Francisco; and on the left, that of Na. Sra. de Bom Parto. Sen from the roads or from any of the forts crowning the several hillocks, Macao is extremely picturesque. The public and private buildings are gaily painted and the streets kept very clean.

Since the cession of the island of Hongkong to the British, the trade of Macao has decreased cousid rably, and the coolie trade gave it an unenviable notoriety. This traffic, pregnant with abuses, was happily abolished in 1874. Tea continues tɔ be an article of export, showing the value of from $700,000 to $800,000 a year. Essential oils are also exported to some extent. There is likewise some trade in opium.

The terrific typhoon of the 23rd September, 1874, which swept across Hongkong and the Southern Coast of China with such force, laid a considerable part of Macas in ruins. During the full violence of the wind, and fearful rise of the tide, a fire took place which consumed the best houses in the parish of Santo Antonio. With its trade gone and consequent departure of many of its residents, the activity of the place is a thing of the past. Owing to its pleasant climate and the quietude prevailing night and day, it has become the refuge of invalids and hard toiling people from Hongkong and other neighbouring ports.

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