By a member of the Portuguese Community of Macao
In October 1866 the foreigners resident in Macao offered to His Excellency Councilor José Rodrigues Coelho do Amaral, who was at the time Governor of the Colony, a miniature in silver of the Light House in the Guia Fort. As the history and politics of Macao are not things generally known beyond these mere rudimentary facts, perhaps a few words may be allowed on Senhor Amaral and his doings.
Senhor Amaral was for more than three years Governor of the Portuguese Colony in China and assumed charge of its administration on the 22nd June 1863. He left on the 26th October 1866. The enlightened manner in which this functionary carried on the affairs of the Colony and the great development which since then has taken place in Public Works at Macao from which has resulted the complete reformation of a Portuguese City impose upon us the pleasing duty of laying before our readers an account though brief of all the important measures which bave been carried out under the immediate directions of this distinguished Portuguese General.
In 1863 Macao was an irregular city, had bad roads and streets without cleanliness and the Chinese town, an important District of the place, was a dirty labyrinth and in want of every sanitary requirement. To it were attributed the want of salubrity which then was felt in the City during the hot weather. Markets and open squares were wanting, the number of wells for the supply of water was very small, the roads and streets paved with irregular granite slabs were difficult to traverse during the rainy season and the drainage of the whole City was irregular and bad and determination of a man of character was the magic weapon which in so short a space of time transformed Macao making it what it has since then been a good and healthy city and notable for its cleanliness.
The ameliorations introduced by Governor Amaral were so complete and so well directed, that it did not take long to produce good results. The Roads of both the European and Chinese Towns became excellent and smooth and those outside the Campo Gate fine and beautiful besides these both towns were accessible on all sides either on horseback or by carriage which was not the case previously.
Cutting here and there, rounding this and that corner, turning to profit waste land, opening communication to all the Districts of the City, deepening the wells in existence and opening new ones, erecting hydrants, establishing plazas and squares, building markets and slaughterhouses, increasing the City on the River side or inner Harbor by filling up and constructing on a regular and systematic plan, opening in different a parts basins for the shelter of Chinese boats and constructing bridges over them for free ingress and egress over the Praya, which communicates from Patane to the Barra.
Villages in fact rendering the City healthful and beautiful by regulating and organizing the general cleanliness of the whole these are the real work of Governor Amaral and he succeeded in increasing considerably the value of landed property by these measures. The main sewers were enlarged and made to communicate with each other and the sea by which means the noxious matters principally from the Chinese town which used to corrupt the atmosphere during the heavy rains and the hot weather disappeared.
Trees were planted in every part of the City where it was possible and in the lighting of the City considerable ameliorations were introduced. It was not without great difficulty that Governor Amaral succeeded in effecting the reforms which we have just enumerated one of the main obstacles being the almost utter impossibility of making the Chinese comprehend the necessity for cleanliness.
Those who know the Chinese so deeply imbued with superstition and prejudice will easily comprehend the difficulties which beset the path of a ruler who would seek to make them conforin to the absolutely needful laws which the presence of a European community dictates and the charges of oppression and over legislation which ignorant foolish or venal persons will always be ready to heap on the ruler whose policy does not meet their narrow ideas. Not only were the needs of the present to be met but also fight was to be made against the errors which the past had introduced into the City and it needed a firm will and great energy to carry to the end the plan of reform civilization and progress.
Despising the ignorant deaf to the ill affected laughing always at the foolish superstitions of the Chinese overcoming always by good judgment the difficulties which appeared before him, His Excellency succeeded to his own honor and to the honor of the Nation to which he belongs in traversing the path of hard work to which he had devoted himself and in establishing for the benefit of the general public the wonderful amelioration which we see in the City now.
The Chinese as these prejudices were disarmed began to have confidence in the Chief of the Colony and comprehending the necessity for keeping and increasing the good habits which they learnt they now accept the Police reforms which have regulated the sanitary state of the place.
It was not to Macao alone that Governor Amaral devoted himself with a good heart. His reforms extended to the Villages of Patane, of Mong ha, of S. Lazaro and of Barra and beyond the inner harbor, to those of Taipa and Colovan, introducing in every one of them the same system of Police and regularity which they now possess.
From this short sketch it will be seen that Governor Amaral needs no monument but his Colony Si monimentzem quæris circumspice may be said of him too in its streets and roads but not less do his grave and pleasant manners and charming hospitality live in the memories of his late subjects and fellow countrymen.
The Light House at the Guia after which the cup which forms our illustration was designed, was the first which appeared on the Coast of China and began to exhibit its Light on the 24th October 1865. The machinery made of wood is an ingenious piece of work It is visible in clear wheather at a distance of twenty miles. When Governor Amaral left for Lisbon the people of Macao showed evident proofs of gratitute and acknowledgment for the good works he had done to the place. Both Portuguese and Foreigners united in their anxiety to record their esteem of the illustrious reformer of the Colony. When at Shanghae the Portuguese Community of the place presented to His Excellency a handsome stick for the good services he had done to Macao and the Hongkong Volunteers having paid a visit to Macao in 1865 and received from His Excellency a paternal welcome offered him through their Government a very handsome Sword of honor.
When His Excellency left Macao the manifestations of public feeling were great and spontaneous. The Macaenses gave a splendid Ball in the Theatre of Don Pedro V (...)
The Portuguese Community of Hongkong offered through their Consul a handsome Silver Tea Service whilst the members of the Club Lusitano in that Colony of which His Excellency was the Patron were not behind in the Public demonstrations of respect and devotion to their Chief.
The Foreigners in Macao, as represented by Mr HD Margesson, shewed themselves to be true admirers of the progress of Macao and of the valuable services of the Portuguese Governor, by the delicate souvenir of the Vase in Silver with the Light House which we have referred to above, which souvenir was received in the spirit in which it was given. In August 1867, on the occasion of the nomination of a Member in the Portuguese Parliament of Lisbon for Macao, the Macaenses were unanimous in voting for Governor Amaral as their representative in Parliament. Senhor Amaral, in the commencement of the present year, was appointed one of the Principal Secretaries of State and has the charge of the Marine and Colonial branches of the service.
Artigo não assinado publicado na The China Magazine (Hong Kong) em 1868. Imagem não incluída no artigo.
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