MACAO. 



Macao, a fea-port town of China, in the province of 

 Quang-tong, fituated at the mouth of the Tigris, in the en- 

 trance of the bay of Canton, and built ©n a peninfula, or 

 rather a fmall iiland, becaufe it is feparated from the land 

 by a river, where the ebbing and flowing of the fca are fenfi- 

 biy felt. This tongue of land is joined to the reft of the 

 idand only by a fmall neck, about loo yards acrofs. The 

 Portuguefe obtained this port from the emperor Camhy, 

 as a reward for the afTiftance they gave to the Chinefe in 

 deftroying the pirates, who from the iflands in the vicinity 

 of Canton infefled the feas and ravaged all the coafts of 

 China. Some writers pretend, that this city had no inhabit- 

 ants but pirates when the Portuguefe formed an eftablifli- 

 ment in it ; and that they were only permitted to build huts 

 covered with ftraw. However this be, their whole extent of 

 territory, bounded by a wall, is not more than eight miles 

 in circumference. In this fmall fpot, the Portuguefe car- 

 ried on, for a long time, almoft exclufively, a confiderable 

 traffic with the Chinefe empire, and with other countries 

 in Afia, particularly Japan, Tonquin, Cochinchina, and 

 Siam. But by the luxury occafionedby increafe of wealth and 

 the injurious oppreffion of the Chinefe, the entcrprifing 

 fpirit of the Portuguefe declmed, and the inhabitants of 

 Macao became enervated' by a tropical climate. Their 

 trade to Japan failed ; their other fpeculations became pre- 

 carious ; and this once profperous fettlement is now very 

 much reduced. The houfes at Macao are built after the 

 European maimer, but they are low, and make little (how. 

 Here are 13 churches and chapels, and 50 priefts, to mi- 

 nifter to the devotion of between four and five thoufand 

 laity. Of the two pagan temples at Macao, belonging to 

 the Chinefe, one is curioufly fituated among a confuted heap 

 of iramenfe mafles of granite. This temple is comprifed 

 of three feparate buildings one over the other ; the only ap- 

 proach to which is by a winding flight of fteps hewn out of 

 the folid rock. The cave of Camoens, fituated a little 

 above the loftieft eminence in the town, was confl:ru(fted, 

 probably, in the fame manner as the temple above defcribed, 

 by bringing together a vaft number of rocks. This cave, 

 from a tradition current in the fettlement, belonged to Ca- 

 moens, a Portuguefe poet, who refided a confiderable time 

 at Macao, and in which cave, it is faid, he wrote the cele- 

 brated poem of the Lufiad. The whole population of Ma- 

 cao, according to the ftatement of La Peroufe, may be 

 computed at 20,000, of whom 100 are Portuguefe by birth, 

 2000 metis, or half Indians and half Portuguefe, with as 

 many Caffre flaves, their domellics. The reft are Chinefe, 

 who employ themfelves in commerce and difl'ereHt trades, by 

 which they lay the Portuguefe under contribution to their 

 induftry. Thefe laft, though almoft all Mulaltoes, w-ould 

 think themfelves difgraced, if they fupported their families 

 by exercifing any mechanic art, thougli their pride is not 

 above continually foliciting charity, with importunity, froin 

 every one that pafles by them. 



The road-ftead of Macao is fufficicntly fpacious to con- 

 tain 60 gun-ftiips at the entrance of Typa ; and in its har- 

 bour, which is below the town, and communicates with the 

 river up to the eaftward,- ftiips of fevcn or eight hundred 

 tons, with half their lading. The mouth of this harbour is 

 defended by a foi-trefs of two batteries, which muft be kept 

 within piftol-fliot in entering. Three fmall forts, two of 

 which are mounted with twelve guns, and the third with fix, 

 protedt the fouth fide of the town from every attempt of the 

 Chinefe. Thefe fortifications, which are in the worft pof- 

 fible ftate, would be far from formidable to Europeacis, but 

 tlicy may eafily overawe all the maritime forces of the 



Chinefe. A mountain alfo commands the road, where i 

 detachment of troops could hold out a very long fic-ge. 

 The Portuguefe of Macao, more devout than warlike, have 

 built a church on the ruins of a fort, which covered this 

 mountain, forming, at that time, an impregnable poft. The 

 fide next the land is defended by two fortreffcs, one of 

 which is mounted with 40 guns, and capable of containing 

 a garrifon of 1000 men. It is provided with a ciftern, two 

 fprings of running water, and cafemates for laying up wer. 

 hke ammunition and provifions. The other, which mounts 

 30 guns, cannot receive above 300 men, and has a very 

 abundant fpring that never fails. Thefe two citadels com- 

 mand the whole country. The Portuguefe frontiers extend 

 nearly a league from the town, and are bounded by a wall 

 guarded by a mandarin and a few foldiers. This mandarin 

 is the true governor of Macao, whom all the Chinefe obey, 

 though he is not allowed to flcep within thefe limits. But 

 he may examine all the fortifications, infpeft the cuftora- 

 houfes, &c. ; and on thefe occafions the Portuguefe are 

 obliged to give him a falute of five guns : but no European 

 can make a fingle ftep on the Chinefe territory, beyond the 

 wall, which v/ould fubjeft him either to imprifonment or a 

 heavy contribution. The palace of the Chinefe mandarin is 

 in the middle of the city ; and the Portuguefe are conftrained 

 to pay a tribute of ioo,coo ducats for the liberty of choofing 

 their own magillrates, exercifing their rehgiop, and liying 

 according to their own laws. The viceroy of Goa nomi- 

 nates to all civil and mihtary offices at Macao, and appoints 

 the governor and all the fenalors, who participate in the civil 

 authority. He has lately fixed the garrifon at I So Indian 

 feapoys, and 120 mihtia-men, whofe fervice confifts in 

 patroles at night. The foldiers are armed with fticks, and 

 the officer alone has the privilege of wearing a fword ; 

 though he can on no occafion employ it again It a Chinefe. 

 The fenate of Macao is compofed of the governor, who is 

 prefident, and three " verendores," who are the auditors of 

 the city finances. The revenue confifts of the duty laid on 

 merchandize, which can only be imported in Portuguefe 

 veflels. If Macao were made a free port, and had a gar- 

 rifon capable of defending commercial property, when de- 

 pofited there, the revenue of their cuftom-houfe would be 

 doubled, and would be adequate to all the expences of the 

 government. But a trifling intcreft pertaining to the vice- 

 roy of Goa, from felhng Portuguefe commiffions to mer- 

 chants of various nations who carry on a coafting trade in 

 the Eaft Indies, and prefents from fhip-owners to the fenate 

 of Macao, raife an infurmountable obftacle to the eftabhfh- 

 ment of a free trade ; though this would render Macao one 

 of the moft flourifliing cities of Afia, and inconceivably fu- 

 perior to Goa, whofe utility to its mother-country will 

 never be confiderable. Befides the "verendores," there are 

 two judges of orphans, whofe department includes the ad- 

 miniftration of the property of minors, the execution of 

 wills, the nomination of tutors and guardians, and every 

 thing relating to fucceffions. From their decifion an appeal 

 lies to that of Goa. Other civil or criminal caufcs are alfo 

 cognizable, in the firft inftance, by two fenators, who arc 

 nominated as judges. A treafurer receives the produce of 

 the cuftoms ; and his diftiurfements, above a certain amount, 

 muft be fandlioned by an order of the viceroy of Goa. 

 The moft important magiilracy is that of the procurator of 

 the city, which is an intermediate office between the Portu- 

 guefe government and that of China. This office is for life ; 

 that of the governor is triennial ; and the other magiftrates 

 are replaced every year. An appeal lies to Goa from all the 

 decifions of the fenate, which their notorious incapacity 



renders 



