Macao self-supporting . — Centre of Coolie Trade. 397 



was constructed upwards of a thousand years since, which 

 must accordingly be the age of the relic in question. 



The number of inhabitants at present in Macao amounts 

 to about 97,000, of whom 90,000 are Chinese and 7000 Por- 

 tuguese and Mestizoes. Of other foreign nations there are 

 but a very few in the peninsula. The chief article of 

 commerce in the colony is opium, which finds its way 

 hence into the interior in large quantities. Hong-kong 

 is in too close proiximity, is too favourably situated, and 

 is inhabited by too energetic a race, to admit of Macao, 

 especially so long as it remains in the hands of the Por- 

 tuguese, recovering its former commercial importance. 

 Portugal derives but little profit from her colonies, and 

 it is only national pride that will not hear of this posses- 

 sion, which is more a burden than a source of aid to the 

 mother country, being disposed of by way of sale to eitlier 

 the English or the North Americans. However, the main- 

 tenance of this colony costs the Portuguese home Govern- 

 ment but little, as the colonists supjDort the chief expenses 

 themselves. Thus the pay of the Governor, w^ho receives 

 £1260 per annum, as also tliat of the military force of about 

 400 men, and of a small ship stationed in the harbour, are all 

 defi'ayed by the colonists. 



Macao is at present the chief point for the shipment of 

 Chinese labourers or coolies to the West Indies. There are 

 above 10,000 Chinese annually whom hunger and want 

 drive to sell themselves vii'tually as slaves to the traders in 



