Landing upon the soil of the celestial empire

Excerto do relato de uma viagem entre Cantão e Macau - feita em 1826/27 por uma embarcação estrangeira - publicado em "The Ariel: A Literary Gazette":

"(...) Immediately upon landing we were conducted to pay our respects to the Mandareen, who exacted a dollar per head and two dollars upon every trunk and package for privilege of landing upon the soil of the celestial empire. Though Mucoa* belongs nominally to the Portuguese having been regularly ceded to them by the emperor for aid in suppressing a formidable band of pirates who formerly infested the mouth of the river. This tax is probably extorted by the Mandareen for the benefit of his own private pocket but the Portuguese government is too shift less to make any resistance and all are consequently obliged to submit to it upon their landing and re-embarkation."

* leia-se Macau

Mapa ca. 1850
(não incluído na obra referida)