A Narrative of an Exploratory Visit to Each of the Consular Cities of China

"A Narrative of an Exploratory Visit to Each of the Consular Cities of China, and to the Islands of Hong Kong and Chusan, in Behalf of the Church Missionary Society in the Years 1844, 1845, 1846", Rev. George Smith, London, 1847.

Ilustração da Baía da Praia Grande incluída no livro

"As belas e largas estradas ao longo da praia semicircular apresentam uma aparência heterogénea das várias raças de descendentes de chineses e europeus que formam a sua população".

Nos primeiros anos da década de 1840 o reverendo norte-americano George Smith visita Macau, partindo de Cantão, numa viagem de 30 horas. Está no território cerca de duas semanas no mês de Novembro, para, por indicação médica, "mudar de ares".

Excertos:

"The combined effects of climate and close application to the study of Chinese on my health at length rendered it necessary in the opinion of my medical adviser that I should leave for Macao for change of air. Accordingly, on Nov 14th I left Canton soon after sunset in a native fast boat accompanied by two American gentlemen. After a voyage of about thirty hours, during which I suffered considerably from pain in the head and fever, we came to anchor in Macao harbour soon after midnight on the 15th. (...)

On landing I proceeded to a Portuguese hotel where I was confined to my room for three days and then removed to the house of an American Missionary the Rev. W. Lowrie. (...)

The view of Macao is very striking as seen from the harbour and the place itself forms the most delightful residence open to foreigners in China. Having been for two centuries in the possession of the Portuguese it presents to the eye the aspect of a European city with its assemblage of churches, towers and forts.

It stands on an inconsiderable promontory of the island of Heang shan, from which it is separated at the isthmus by a narrow fortification jealously guarded in former times by the Chinese to prevent communication with the interior. 

It possesses two fine harbours, the inner and the outer one, on each side of the headland. Its fine broad roads on the semi circular beach present a motley appearance of the various races of Chinese and European descent which form its population.

The European houses are spacious and of handsome exterior. Until the conclusion of the late war it was the only residence for the families of foreign merchants who were prohibited from taking their wives to Canton . (...)

On the morning of December 2nd, I left Macao for Hong Kong in a native passage boat crowded with Chinese passengers who pretty well divided their whole time between eating smoking and gambling."