Continuação da publicação das fotografias deste pequeno álbum (1) (2)

“SOUVENIR DE MACAU”

com as legendas originais, nenhuma das duas, “bem legendadas”

Souvenir de Macau 1910 Um aspecto da Gruta de CamõesUM ASPECTO DA GRUTA DE CAMÕES
(entrada do jardim, «Casa Gardens»)

“It is situated in the Casa Gardens which are entered by a gateway in the corner of the Plaza de Camoens. On entering, a small garden is seen in front of a large house; but hearing off to the right instead of going to the house and descending some steps one enters a large garden with many broad paths leading in different directions under umbrageous trees, while many ferns grow in the rocks, great masses of which are piled about in certain parts in nature’s wild confusion. The garden until recently was private property but a few years sime the Portuguese Government bought it from its owner for $35,000. Since its purchase a hand-stand has been erected and a fountain put up, the paths ivoemented (though they still retain their slipperyness as in other days) and ornamental walks and vases and borders made at certain places of little cubes or chips of white and red stone which have a somewhat bright and pleasing effect. 

Souvenir de Macau 1910 Praça de CamõesPRAÇA DE CAMÕES
(interior do jardim de Camões)

Fortunately the Government has had the good taste not to carry this ornamentation to too great an extent and many parts of the garden are delicious in their wild condition. In one on two places, especially in one corner of the garden, gigantic boulders are piled one on the top of the other and a banian is perched on the topmost, while it sends its roots down in a perfect network over the masses of rocks on their way to mother earth, for the sustenance which the unique position of the tree prevents it from absorbing otherwise.
On one of the mass of rocks thrown together in wild confusion was a small terrace where one might sit and view the landscape o’er. A flight of steps led up to it; but it has now been removed. A circular building with a slit through its roof at one side of the garden overlooking Inner Harbour will also attract attention. It was built for Laperouse and in it the scientific officers of his squadron, the Astrolabe and Boussole, made astronomical observations during the stay of those vessels in the Taipa in January 1787.” (3)

(1) https://nenotavaiconta.wordpress.com/2015/04/29/macau-de-1910-souvenir-de-macau-i/
(2) https://nenotavaiconta.wordpress.com/2015/05/01/macau-de-1910-souvenir-de-macau-ii/
(3) BALL, J. Dyer – Macao: the Holy City,  the Gem of the Orient Earth, 1905