NOTES OF TEAYEL IN CHINA. 175 



pective jurisdiction of the Portuguese and Chinese Governments. 

 Portugal has had a lease of part of the island for the past two 

 centuries, which will continue so long as the yearly rent is paid. In 

 former days, and during the existence of the East India Company's 

 charter, Macao was the head quarters, in China, of that honorable 

 body, and the improvements which they added to the place by the 

 erection of superior buildings and the general adornment of the 

 neighbourhood are still to be seen, but divested of their original 

 attractions. The city lies between two hills, on a peninsula stretch- 

 ing forth from the island, and its breadth is only about a quarter of a 

 mile or very little more ; a current of cool air is continually circula- 

 ting through it, which makes it a place of resort during the hottest 

 months in the year. The Portuguese population is under the 

 direction of a Governor who has a few soldiers allowed to him, to 

 enable him to keep the place in subjection, and prevent the 

 encroachments of the Chinese. A wall is built across the island, 

 the Chinese Mandarin having his residence in the village on one side 

 of it, and the Portuguese Grovernor his abode on the other. Each has 

 exclusive jurisdiction over his own countrymen, and when a subject 

 of one domain renders himself amenable to the laws of the other, he 

 is transferred to his own Government to undergo his trial and 

 receive his sentence if convicted. On the tops of the hills are ex- 

 tensive forts which perfectly guard the city from attack on any 

 quarter. The buildings erected by the East India Company are 

 located on the south side of the island, at a short distance from the 

 beach, and give the place a pleasing appearance from the water. They 

 give a frontage to the city between the hills, and form an agreeable 

 contrast with the spires and domes which rise up in their rear. 

 Parallel with the beach is a wide level road called the " Praya 

 Grand," at the eastern extremity of which is a park. This is 

 resorted to on Sunday afternoon, by the whole community, to 

 enjoy the delightful music which the military band is generously 

 discoursing, with a view to dispel an}^ gloom that might 

 have arisen during the religious exercises of the morning. 



There are two Poman Catholic Churches in Macoa, and as there 

 are no seats in either of them, the female worshippers sit down on 

 the floor, each having brought a small woollen mat, which she throws 

 down on the spot she has selected. The women wear gay muslin or 

 calico dresses, and a cambric shawl which is drawn up over the head 

 in lieu of a bonnet 



Nearly all the principal foreign merchants in Canton, have fur- 

 nished houses in Macao which they visit in hot weather. They are 



