30 



INNER HARBOUR. 



The inner harbour of Macao is spacious, and 

 capable of affording anchorage to a large number 

 of ships, safely sheltered from every gale ; but 

 only twenty-five European vessels are permitted 

 to anchor, and those only which belong to the 

 Spanish or Portuguese nations ; excepting in 

 case of distress, when a ship of any other Euro- 

 pean power may require immediate repairs ; but 

 even then there is much trouble and difficulty in 

 procuring the requisite permission : this pro- 

 ceeds from the usual jealousy of the Chinese 

 government towards Europeans. Nearly two 

 centuries ago, or perhaps more, permission was 

 granted by the Chinese authorities for twenty- 

 five foreign vessels of the Portuguese and Spa- 

 nish nations to enter the harbour ; and these are 

 always regarded by this extraordinarily blinded 

 people to be the very identical vessels which had 

 at that time received the original indulgence 

 from the imperial government.* 



Fruit is neither particularly abundant nor ex- 

 cellent in this part of China ; the great variety 

 of oranges may be regarded the best, as also 

 the elegant scarlet Lit, chi {Dimocarpus litchi). 

 There is another fruit, of which also there are 

 several varieties — it is a Diospp^us, — (the Dios- 



* No individuals, except Portuguese, or naturalized Por- 

 tuguese, are permitted to be owners of houses at Macao. 



