Continuação da leitura Capítulo I do artigo escrito em 1845-1846, “China and the Chinese” referente à «descrição de Macau, suas igrejas e edifícios públicos, gruta de Camões e cemitério inglês» publicado no “Dublin University Magazine”, 1848. (1)(2).
The Portuguese garrison consists of only three or four hundred soldiers, who are quite inadequate for the service, and too inactive or feeble to resist the Chinese troops. The local government, it must be presumed, originally submitted to these tyrannical proceedings, and to this interference, on the part of the Chinese authorities, in the hope that this pusillanimous conduct on their part would secure to them an exclusive trade with, and a settlement in China. They thus at once betryed weakness, and showed ignorance of the real character of the Chinese, who tyrannize, the more their exactions are submitted to, and become suppliants and submissive, when met with a firm and unflinching resistance.
The local government is now compelled to yield, being alike destitute of enery, amilitary force, and funds. The Portuguese population is about 7,000, and the Chinese far exceeds that number. The Roman Catholic churches in Macao are numerous and splendid; the finest edifice among them was the Jesuits’ Church, which was burned down a few years since. Some estimate may be formed of what it must have been, from the front, which remains entire and uninjured. This is richly carved and ornamented. Statues of various saints, as large as life, occupy the numerous niches.
Pagode chinoise a Macao: Chine (ca 1845)
LAUVERGNE, Barthélemy, 1805-1871 (3)
Situated at the summit of a broad and noble flight of steps, it presents the aspect only of departed grandeur – would that we could add also, of departed superstition. Besides those churches, there are three monasteries and a convent, together with a college, a grammar and other schools, a female orphan, and several other charitable institutions.
The town is defended by several well-constructed forts. The senate-house is a remarkably fine building, whose roof iss supported by columns, on some of which is inscribed in the Chineses and Portuguese language, the emperor´s grant of Macao to the Portuguese crown. The customhouse, which faces the inner harbour, is a very extensive building; but little business appeared to be carried on while I was there – now, I suppode, i tis next to useless, since Macao has wisely been made a free port. This measure will, no doubt, benefit the town, by na increase of trade; and the wealthy inhabitants will be considerably augmented , by an influx of our own merchants and their establishments, driven by injudicious enactments from Hong-Kong. The annoyances experienced at this custom-house were very great, as the officers insisted upon opening every article, and duty was charged upon the most trivial, such as a quarter of a pound of tea – the surplus of our sea-store.
Frequent complaints were also made of various things which were constantly extracted from luggage or goods. It was found to be but lost labour to seek for any redress.
Although the houses are capacious,the streets, generally speaking, wide, and the public.
buildings of no despicable character, yet on all sides, and at every winding, the symptons of decay and departing prosperity were apparent. There was a noble mansion unrepaired – here another fallen into ruin – grass grew unchecked in the pavements of the most frequented streets, and even on the steps of the churches.”
(1) (2) Ver anteriores referências em:
https://nenotavaiconta.wordpress.com/2015/05/17/leitura-macau-e-a-gruta-de-camoes-xxix-visit-to-camoenss-cave-1846/
https://nenotavaiconta.wordpress.com/2015/06/18/leitura-descricao-de-macau-em-1846-i/
(3) http://purl.pt/4966
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