"Excertos de Wanderings in New South Wales, Batavia, Pedir Coast, Singapore and China being the Journal of a Naturalist during 1832 1833 and 1834", livro da autoria de George Bennett - que esteve em Macau - editado em dois volumes em Londres em 1834.
Para além do jardim e aviário de Beale - a quem dedica mais de 40 páginas - Bennet visitou ainda a Gruta de Camões, o museu de história natural, os jardins do Seminário de S. José e o atelier de pintura de G. Chinnery.
Foi também Reeves que reuniu - desconhece-se a autoria, sendo provavelmente de pintores chineses - um conjunto de 128 aguarelas com a reprodução de todas as espécies que viu e/ou recolheu, nomeadamente a da exótica e rara ave do paraíso - imagem acima - que existia em Macau. Era tão rara que há registos de Beale ter enviado para Inglaterra ao longo dos anos pelos menos dois desenhos/ilustrações do exemplar. Admite-se que muitos dos animais e plantas representados nestas aguarelas eram os que faziam parte da colecção de Beale em Macau.
On the 1st of October (de 1833) I visited Macao. This ancient colony of the Portuguese in China has a very picturesque and romantic aspect on approaching it from the sea it is situated upon a peninsula and from bearing some resemblance to a mallet has received the name Macao which in the Portuguese language signifies that instrument. The white houses rising one above the other the high mountains in the back ground and about it the castle and monasteries perched on the elevated summits of some of the hills the numerous sacred edifices elevating themselves above the neighbouring houses the most conspicuous objects in all Roman Catholic countries all contribute to the beauty of this little city it seemed both from the roadstead and on landing a Portuguese town to which the taste and wealth of our native land had been added not the least cause of its neatness or beauty it contains also very agreeable society both for residents and strangers.
The streets of Macao are very narrow this however affords shelter to the pedestrian from the fervent rays of the sun they are likewise ill paved and very steep the houses rising from the Praya Grande on one side and the inner a harbour on the other terrace upon terrace and are constructed upon a very solid foundation of rock the pavement consists of smooth and rough stones without any attention having been given to their relative sizes so that a person taking a short walk may often expect to return with a strained ancle.
The private residences of the Europeans are very convenient spacious and more delightful for their interior accommodation than for any exterior beauty. Many vessels have been sent to the east coast of China by enterprising merchants of Canton to endeavour if possible to open a trade with some of the Chinese ports on that coast. (...)
The Casa gardens in which the cave (Gruta de Camões) is situated are extensive and have even now in their neglected state sufficient beauty to be regarded as the most retired romantic and beautiful spot in Macao. (...)
I visited also the jesuits church and college of San José. On entering the gate a high flight of granite steps leads up to the church and turning off to the right on gaining the ascent takes the visitor to the door which leads him into those portions of the building devoted to the college residences of the professors & c in a long room were some small but well executed paintings of Portuguese famed in days of yore. (...)
A museum has been established at Macao by the English residents and even now contains an extensive and excellent collection of birds beasts weapons fossils & c from all parts of the world. Several rooms are apropriated solely for this collection having a person to take charge of them and attend upon visitors. (...)
The great object of attraction at Macao, together with the agreeable society of the English and American ladies and the beautiful specimens of the fine arts to be seen in the painting room of the celebrated Chinnery, is the splendid aviary and gardens of T. Beale Esq.
How pleasant it is to see this gentleman - now resident for upwards of forty years in China -devote his leisure moments to the care and delight of the elegant and brilliant productions of nature both in the animal as well as in the vegetable kingdom. On entering the large doors which open from a narrow lane the ear is saluted by various noises proceeding from a number of caged birds inhabiting the verandah of the dwelling. (...)
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