Macao, a rocky Peninsula renowned long before the Portuguese were settled there for its safe harbour and a temple consecrated to Ama, the Etymology of Macao. Of this once famous emporium a short historical sketch may, perhaps, deserve notice and help to dispel the clouds of uncertainty which are still hover ing over the question, whether the Kings of Portugal were enti. tled to number this spot of China among their ultramarine dominions. Smugglers, swarming in search of a good market, were naturally desirous of bringing the business as near as possible, to the con tinental limits of China: it would be less exposed to the plunder of Pirates and the impositions of the Imperial cruizers, who dearly sold their connivance at an unlawful intercourse between Chinese and Strangers. Both parties, by a mutual interest, were induced to spare neither solicitations nor seasonable bribery. These means operated, for the strangers obtained liberty to erect on the desert Island of Ama some sheds for drying goods, introduced under the appellation of tribute, which had been, it was alledged, damaged in a storm. By liberally feeing the nearest inspecting authorities the Foreigners were, by degrees, permitted to build substantial houses. This epocha dates from the year 1558, though there is a good reason from Dr. Morrison's " View of China" to believe that Europeans came as early as 1535 to Macao and had in 1537 temporary shelters on the Island. To that period Manuel Faria y Souza alludes in his Asia Portuguesa, saying "his countrymen established again (de novo) at Macao in the year 1558."
Convinced of their weakness and their inability to maintain themselves by force of arms, the inhabitants chose to continue the old policy. By submission and gifts petty Mandarins connived at an increasing population, at the establishment of a municipal government, at the influx of priests and their endeavours to convert infidels to Chris tianity. The higher Mandarins paid for twenty or thirty years no serious attention to what was going on at Macao till in the year 1582 the Tsung-tüh, or Viceroy of Kwang-tung and Kwang-se summoned before him the Governor of the Bishoprick, the Capitao of the land ex (Capitao da Terra) and the Judge. Fearful of what might happen to them they were unwilling to obey; yet the salvation of their infant colony required, that some person or other should proceed to Chao-king-foo the Viceroy's residence at that time. (...)
Excerto de um artigo publicado no The Canton Miscellany, em 1831. O autor é o sueco Anders Ljungstedt.* Publicou artigos ao longo de várias edições e no ano seguinte viriam a fazer parte do livro "Contribution to an Historical Sketch of the Portuguese Settlements in China. Principally of Macao, of the Portuguese Envoys & Ambassadors to China, of the Roman Catholic Mission in China and of the Papal Legates to China", editado nos EUA. É considerado o primeiro livro sobe a História de Macau.
* Este jornal começou a ser publicado em 1831 e teve cinco edições (apenas nesse ano). Foi editado por John F. Davis (1795-1890) - viria a ser o segundo governador de Hong Kong - e Charles Marjoribanks, presidente do Comité da Companhia Inglesa das Índias Orientais em Cantão.
Na introdução pode ler-se: "Nós, os editores do Canton Miscellany, chegamos a um período da vida em que nos sentimos superiores às oscilações da crítica. Não escrevemos para a fama e, portanto, não tememos a censura. O nosso trabalho é, por natureza, independente de ambos."
Este periódico foi impresso em Macau, na imprensa da Companhia das Índias Orientais. Os artigos não eram assinados.
