China.] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



461 



narrow and irregular. The public buildings consist of churches, convents, 

 and the senate-house; the latter terminates the only spacious and level street 

 in the town. The Governor's house is situated on the beach, opposite the 

 landing place, and commands a beautiful prospect, but is not remarkable for 

 e\ternal appearance or internal accommodation. Contiguous to it is the 

 English factory, a plain commodious building; the other factories are in the 

 same style, and all of them surrounded with gardens. The harbour does 

 not admit vessels of burthen ; large ships generally anchor six or seven miles 

 ofF, the town bearing about W. N. W. The town is defended by several 

 strong forts, mounted with heavy cannon, and garrisoned with Portuguese 

 troops, seldom exceeding 250 in number. There are a Portuguese custom- 

 house and quay on the S. side of the town, where all ships coining into the 

 bay, are obliged to send their boats. 



When a ship arrives among the islands, a pilot generally comes on board 

 to carry her into Macao roads. Immediately she Is brought to anchor, w hich 

 is generally about six or seven miles from the town, lie proceeds to Macao, 

 to acquaint the Mandarin with what nation she belongs to. Should there be 

 any women on board, application must be made to the Bishop and Synod for 

 permission to send them on shore, as they will not lie permitted to proceed 

 to Whampoa in the ship. As soon as the Mandarin is satisfied in his 

 enquiries, he orders ofF a river pilot, (who seldom comes on board until the 

 ship has lain 24 hours in the roads,) who brings a chop, or licence, to 

 pass the Bocca Tigris, or mouth of Canton river, and carries the ship to 

 Whampoa. 



The Chinese treat the Portuguese very cavalierly on many occasions, 

 exacting duties sometimes in the port, and punishing individuals for crimes 

 committed against the natives; and whenever resistance is attempted 

 against such proceedings, the Mandarin, who commands the Chinese troops 

 at the guard-house, immediately stops the supply of provisions from their 

 market until they quietly submit. 



The possession of this place has been extremely beneficial to the Por- 

 tuguese ; for from thence they carried on for very nearly a century a most 

 beneficial commerce with Japan, by which Macao became one of the richest 

 and most considerable places in their possession ; but since their expulsion 

 from Japan, and the interference of other European nations in the commerce 

 with Canton, together with the unsettled state of Siam, Cochin-China, and 

 Tonquin, the place has fallen to decay. 



Trade.— The following account is given of the articles and amount of 

 the annual imports 



Ff2 



