Present Day Impressions of the Far East

"Present Day Impressions of the Far East and Prominent and Progressive Chinese at Home and Abroad: The History, People, Commerce, Industries and Resources of China, Hongkong, Indo-China, Malaya and Netherlands India"

É o longo título do livro de W. H. Morton Cameron e W. Feldwick com mais de mil páginas publicado em 1917 pela Globe encyclopedia Company em Londres.

Excerto e imagens sobre Macau:

Although Macao had been known previously to European mariners as a safe port of refuge, it was not until the year 1557 under the Ming dynasty that the Portuguese obtained permission from the Chinese Government to establish a factory there on payment of a sum of Tls 20,000 and the place was held from 1662 until 1848 on an annual rental of Tls 500.

Governor at this latter date was Senhor Ferreira do Amaral who drove out the Chinese Customs officials and thus destroyed all semblance of Chinese authority an action for which he paid with his life in the following year being murdered and his head taken to Canton. It was not until 1887 that the sovereignty of Portugal was formally recognized by China in the treaty signed with the former country in that year subsequent to the establishment of the Chinese Maritime Customs Service under Sir Robert Hart Although prior to the cession of Hongkong to the British in 1841 Macao was the only open port in China it was never an important trading centre the bay upon which it stands being too shallow for any but light draught steamers and junks.

Its chief period of prosperity occurred in the early seventies owing to the trade in coolies exported to the Peruvian guano mines. There is a fair anchorage for sea going vessels under the shores of Taipa two miles from Macao and attempts have been made spasmodic ally of recent years to improve the harbour of Macao itself by dredging. The chief interest of Macao lies in its history and its old world buildings and atmosphere which with its salubrious climate renders it a favourite watering place for Europeans from Hongkong.

Camoëns the great Portuguese poet born probably in Lisbon in 1524 served as a private soldier in Macao and there composed the greater part of his Lusiads also many of the sonnets that have made his name famous throughout Europe and placed him at the head of Portuguese writers.

Chinnery the painter resided here for some time and produced a number of pictures and sketches which have had some influence on art in the south of China.

In the early days the Portuguese were strictly confined to the Macao peninsula by a barrier wall built by the Chinese across the isthmus in 1573 in which were gates opened only six times in each month at which times the inhabitants were supplied with rice and other necessaries.

During the period when the East India Company controlled the China trade at Canton Europeans were not permitted to bring women to their residences in the factories so that the merchants were obliged to find homes for their families in Macao. Both the British and Dutch East India Companies had at one time establishments in the port which according to tradition was that which sheltered the legendary junk of Tien How, the Queen of Heaven.

Macao is now chiefly celebrated for its large government controlled gambling establishments which together with its picturesque and healthy situation have gained for it the name of the Monte Carlo of the Orient. 

The Bishop of Macao

The Bishop of Macao exercises ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the peninsula of Macao and its dependencies and also over the islands of Heungshan and Hainan China, the Portuguese possessions Timor in the Malay Archipelago over the Portuguese Roman missions in Singapore and Malacca is assisted by a chapter of twelve and two chaplains. There are in Macao three leading parish churches each with a vicar viz the Cathedral, the Church of San Lourenço and the Church of Santo Antonio. The Church of St Lazaro is considered to be the parish church of the Chinese who are growing in number every day. Other smaller churches are dotted about the town and the Santa Casa da Misericordia, the Holy House of Mercy, the most important charitable institution in Macao also comes under the ægis of the Bishop.

Henrique Nolasco da Silva

A well known name in the colony of Macao is that of Henrique Nolasco da Silva who has practised his profession as a lawyer for the last ten years. Besides being a leading member of the legal profession he is greatly interested in chemistry and is the proprietor of two dispensaries namely Pharmacia Drogaria Franco & Co and Pharmacia Popular, the latter being the largest and oldest pharmacy of the colony. He has held various public offices and is a member of the Municipal Council Leal Senado, secretary of Santa Casa da Misericordia and one of the proprietors and editors of the journal O Progresso, whilst at present he acts as substitute to the Attorney General of Macao. Lately he has devoted some attention to the improvement of Portuguese commerce in the Far East. With this object in view he has erected in the Rua Central, one of the principal roads of the colony, an establishment called the Casa Alto Douro, which has for sale Portuguese products, the best of their kind. It also acts as agent for important business houses, exporting to Europe Chinese and Japanese curiosities,  silk, tea, etc. Mr Henrique Nolasco da Silva is doing everything in his power in the interests of the Portuguese nation in the Far East and in this connection is making known to the people the value and good qualities of Portuguese products. 

Francisco X. A. da Silva

One of the best known gentlemen in Macao is Mr Francisco XA da Silva who was born there on August 19 1883. He received his early education at the Lyceu Nacional. So successful was he in his studies that at 14 years of age he was appointed student interpreter of the Chinese language and four years later was promoted to be official interpreter. During this period he continued his studies turning his attention to law and in this he was successful. Obtaining a diploma he gave up his official calling in 1911 and began to practise as a Portuguese lawyer. Two years later he was appointed a member of the Concelho de Provincia and in the same year was elected Vereador de Leal Senado, member of the municipal chamber. In 1914 he was made president of the Leal Senado, an important position which he still holds. He also is a member of the Government Council Board of Public Instruction, Harbour Administration Board, Sanitary Board, etc. and has occupied for some time the following positions: Attorney General Administrador do Concelho, Procurador Administrativo dos Negocios Sinicos and chief of the Department of Police Affairs. 

M. da Silva Mendes

Mr M da Silva Mendes who has been practising as a lawyer and advocate in Macao since 1902, was born in 1870 (deve ler-se 1867) at Santo Thryso. He had a very successful career at Coimbra University. In addition to his professional duties he is Professor of German at the Institute of Macao. He devotes a considerable portion of his spare time to literary work and his publications include O Socialismo Libertario ou Anarchismo and Guilherm Tell.