1148
MACAO
considered as forming an angle, the base of which leans upon the river or anchoring place. On the lofty mount eastward, called Caçilha, is a fort, enclosing the hermitage of Na. Sra. de Guia, and westward is Lillau, 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 stands the fort San Francisco; and on the left, that of N. Sra. de Bom Parto. Seen from the roads or from any of the forts crowning the several low hills, Macao is extremely picturesque. The public and private buildings are gaily painted and the streets kept very clean.
In the town there are several places of interest. The Gardens and Grotto of Camões, once the resort of the celebrated Portuguese poet Camões, are worth seeing, as, also, are the noble façade of the ancient Jesuit church of San Paulo, burnt in 1835, and the Avenida Vasco da Gama. The Cathedral is a large plain structure having no architectural pretensions, and the various parish churches are stucco edifices, ugly without and tawdry within. Pleasant excursions can be made to the Hot Springs of Yô-mak, about 16 miles from Macao, accessible by steam launch. In winter, snipe are to be found in the neighbourhood and afford good sport.
Owing to its being open to the south-west breezes and to the quietude always prevailing, Macao has become a frequent retreat of invalids and business men from Hongkong and other neighbouring ports and there are several good modern hotels.
After the cession of Hongkong to the British, the trade of Macao declined rapidly and the coolie traffic subsequently developed there gave it a certain notoriety. This traffic, pregnant with abuses, was abolished in 1874. Tea continues to be an article of export, as well as fire-crackers, tobacco and preserves. Essential oils are also exported to some extent. There is likewise some trade in opium. Silk filatures, brick and cement works, and other factories have been established. The commercial activity of the place, however, so far as the Portuguese are concerned, is a thing of the past. The net total of the trade for 1929, as given in the Chinese Customs returns from Lappa, was Hk. Tls. 22,679,610, as compared with Hk. Tls. 27,897,494 in 1928, Hk. Tls. 21,585,043 in 1927, Hk. Tls. 10,391,394 in 1926, Hk. Tls. 22,470,368 in 1925, Hk. Tls. 27,398,467 in 1924, Hk. Tls. 22,218,573 in 1923, Ék. Tls. 26,316,415 in 1922, and Hk. Tls. 30,854,147 in 1921.
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As the harbour has long shown signs of silting up, various projects have been prepared for its improvement, but until recently little has been done. A detailed plan of a very big scheme was prepared 30 years ago by Senhor Adolpho Loureiro, but was pigeon-holed by the home Government. The matter was raised again, however, some 10 or 12 years later, and another expert engineer, Senhor Costello Branco, was sent to Macao to make investigations. He made a few emendations to the original plan, but his report suffered the same fate as its predecessor. Then came the great constitutional change in Portugal with the promise of a greater measure of autonomy for the Colonies, and the need of harbour improvement was pressed again, with the result that Admiral Hugo de Lacerda, who had planned and superintended the important harbour works at Lourenço Marques, was sent out to make a report. He has introduced important modifications in the original scheme. Whereas the earlier schemes contemplated only the improvement of the inner harbour, Admiral Lacerda's scheme, while embracing this,. provides, as its main feature, for the creation of a harbour for large vessels in front of the city. The work for making the inner harbour better fitted for the accommoda- tion of the considerable fleet of junks which trade between Macao and neighbouring ports. and engage in the important fishing industry is now in a very advanced state of progress. There have been extensive reclamations, and some substantial sea-walls are now in posi- tion. By means of a Deauville railway running across the neck of the peninsula, the mud excavated from the inner harbour was dumped on the other side near the Barrier. The main feature of the outer harbour works is a protected anchorage to accommodate vessels drawing up to 23 feet, and a long deep-water channel of approach, giving a depth of 14 ft. at low tides and 23 ft. at high tides.
Owing to the long drought in 1929 the water supply from the reservoir on Guia Hill was exhausted. The need for good drinking water has been keenly felt and a concession has been obtained from the Municipal Council for the supply of portable water, while boring operations have been attended with some success.
The new Macao-Shekki motor road, started in 1928 was completed in the following year as far as Cheihang (30 miles).
The installation of automatic telephones was inaugurated in December, 1929.
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