Ofício do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a indagação feita a um navio francês que está nas águas da Taipa
Transcription
Page 1
[Page]
(No visible page or folio number)
[Stamp — top right]
(红印，文字模糊不清，似为官方印章)
[Stamp — bottom right]
(红印，方形，边框有纹饰，内文部分可辨为“广州府”等字，其余模糊)
[Main text]
特調廣州府香山縣正堂加五級紀錄八次楊
為稟報事乾隆四十一年九
月十八日奉
本府信牌奉
憲牌乾隆重四十二年九月初三日據粵海關咨呈乾隆四十
二年八月二十八日據虎門口報稱八月二十七日有咈蘭哂夷船一隻船商蒙吧裝載銀
子等貨由虎門進計開商梢一百十名大砲二十四門鳥鎗七十枝劍刀六十口火葯
四百斤彈子六百個理合報赴并據引水人劉國正報稱先日有咈蘭哂國夷船在
澳門潭仔灣泊有鬼子一名小廝一百二十五名晚在澳坐鬼子三板一隻趕至九洲
洋向付搭該船進口里合聲明又據啡噹哂夷商呢報同前由據此除行南
海縣查訊明確按榜詳報外咨呈照等由到本部堂據此查夷商蒙吧船隻
現據營員稟報入口除另文飭行防範外惟查咈蘭哂國夷商呢夷船先據
海防同知申報該船並無貨物因徃呂宋貿易被風飄壓到廣收入潭仔灣
泊其呢呢又因患病帶有小廝赴澳就醫應飭押逐出港等由當經飭司轉飭
香山縣查傳該國大班將呢呢押回原船着令出口毋許逗遛奧地在案合該
夷船因何尚留在彼復有鬼子駕船附搭進口殊屬藐玩據呈前由合就飭
[Marginalia — right margin, near center]
九月廿日
Page 2
[Page]
ttr 091
[Stamp — top center]
[Ornamental border with repeating geometric and floral motifs]
[Main text]
行僑牌仰司急照事理即便速飭南海縣立將嘜肥夷船刻日查明現在有無附
搭前項鬼子進口具文進報票察核一面檄飭香山縣確查呢夷船既經佔令
押逐回帆何以復任逗遛致有鬼子混搭徃來之處據寔稟票察奪毋任狗隐
致于未便速速等因計粘抄一紙到司奉此合就飭行偹牌行府仰縣照依
事理即便遵照
督憲檄行情節刻日查明據寔通稟察核奪毋得狗隐等因計粘少、二
名駕三板船到澳居住先奉檄飭驅逐業經轉飭立傳該國大班將
即日押回原船着令揚帆出口毋許逗遛在案茲奉前因除移戎廳
合並飭行為此牌仰該民目唩囉哆等即便遵照立將呢夷船既經飭令
押逐回帆何以復任逗遛致有鬼子混搭徃來之處刻日確查明白據寔呈
飛稟票衷以凴轉奪慎毋狗隐稽延致于未便速速領牌
[Marginalia — left margin, vertical]
計粘抄一紙
[Stamp — lower left]
[Red square seal with illegible characters: (Selo vermelho quadrado com caracteres ilegíveis)]
[Stamp — lower center]
[Red circular seal with character “道” visible; surrounding text illegible: (Selo vermelho circular com caractere “道” e texto circundante ilegível)]
Page 3
[Page]
[ILLEGIBLE: ~4 chars at top edge]
[Stamp — top center]
[Circular stamp: 乾隆四十二年九月]
[Marginalia — left margin]
日繳
[Main text]
縣
竹
甲
日承候房承
右開亮昌曝啜准此
[Signature]
[ILLEGIBLE: ~3 chars, possibly seal impression]
[Stamp — right side, vertical]
[Rectangular red seal: partially visible, characters include “縣” and “印”]
[Archival mark]
T 60
Translation
Page 1
[Page]
(No visible page or folio number)
[Stamp — top right]
(Official red seal; inscription illegible, likely an administrative or judicial stamp of the Guangdong provincial authorities)
[Stamp — bottom right]
(Official red square seal with decorative border; partially legible inscription includes the characters ‘Guangzhou Fu’ [Canton Prefecture], with remainder indistinct)
[Main text]
His Excellency Yang, Magistrate of Xiangshan County, Guangzhou Prefecture, with five additional ranks conferred and eight entries recorded in his official merit register,
hereby submits this memorial concerning a matter requiring report.
On 18th day of the 9th month of the 41st year of the Qianlong reign (1776), His Excellency received
an official dispatch (xìn pái) from this Prefecture, which itself transmitted
a higher-order edict (xiàn pái) dated 3rd day of the 9th month of the 42nd year of the Qianlong reign (1777), issued upon receipt of a formal communication (zī chéng) from the Canton Maritime Customs (Yuèhǎi Guān) dated 28th day of the 8th month of the same year. That communication reported, on the authority of the Humen (Bocca Tigris) customs station, that on the 27th day of the 8th month, one vessel belonging to the ‘Fúlánshēn’ (i.e., the Dutch Republic, *Vereenigde Nederlandse Provinciën*), commanded by merchant Monba (possibly *van Baerle* or *van Baren*, a common romanisation variant), had entered through Humen carrying silver and other goods. The vessel’s complement was recorded as follows: 110 crew members (shāng shāo), 24 heavy cannon, 70 matchlock muskets (*niǎo qiāng*), 60 swords and sabres, 400 jīn (c. 200 kg) of gunpowder, and 600 shot. This information is submitted for official record.
Additionally, the licensed pilot Liu Guozheng reported that, some days earlier, a vessel of the ‘Fúlánshēn’ nation had anchored in Tanzi Bay, Macau. On board were one foreigner (*guǐ zǐ*, lit. ‘ghost-child’, a period-appropriate colloquial term for European foreigners) and 125 attendants (*xiǎo sī*, i.e., servants or subordinates). That evening, three Europeans and three local boatmen (*sān bǎn*, lit. ‘three-plank’ boats—small, shallow-draft vessels commonly used for coastal pilotage) departed Macau and proceeded to Jiuzhou Yang (the outer anchorage off Macau), where they boarded the said vessel and accompanied it into port. This circumstance is likewise reported for official notice.
Further, a merchant of the ‘Fēidāngshēn’ (i.e., the Kingdom of Denmark–Norway, *Danmark-Norge*) named ‘Ni’ (likely *Nielsen* or *Nissen*) submitted a report confirming the above details.
In light of these reports, the Prefect ordered the Nanhai County magistrate to investigate fully and submit a detailed report (*ànbǎng xiángbào*) for review. The matter was then referred to this Office (i.e., the office of the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, or *Zǒngdū*). Upon examination, it appears that Merchant Monba’s vessel has now entered port, as confirmed by reports from garrison officers. Separate instructions have been issued to strengthen coastal surveillance and port security.
However, it is noted that the aforementioned ‘Fúlánshēn’ vessel under Merchant ‘Ni’ had previously been reported by the Coastal Defence Intendant (*Hǎifáng Tóngzhī*) to have arrived without cargo, having been driven off course by adverse winds while en route to Luzon (the Philippines) for trade, and consequently forced to anchor in Tanzi Bay, Macau. Moreover, Merchant ‘Ni’—reportedly unwell—had brought 125 attendants to Macau for medical treatment. In view of these circumstances, orders were duly issued through the Provincial Administration Commission (*Bùzhèng Shǐ Sī*) directing the Xiangshan County magistrate to summon the chief Dutch merchant (*dà bān*, i.e., the *opperhoofd* or head of the Dutch factory) and compel him to return Merchant ‘Ni’ to his vessel and ensure its immediate departure from Chinese waters, forbidding any further delay or residence within Macau. This directive was formally registered (*zài àn*).
It is therefore perplexing—and indeed deeply troubling—that this same vessel remains at anchor in Tanzi Bay, and that foreign nationals have now sailed independently into port aboard a locally chartered vessel. Such conduct constitutes a flagrant disregard for imperial regulations and established protocol.
In view of the foregoing, this Office hereby issues the present order.
[Marginalia — right margin, near centre]
20th day of the 9th month [Qianlong 42; 1777]
Page 2
[Page]
ttr 091
[Stamp — top centre]
[Ornamental border comprising repeating geometric and floral motifs]
[Main text]
Imperial Commissioner’s Edict: To the Prefectural Administration — Urgent.
You are hereby directed to instruct the Nanhai County Magistrate immediately to investigate, without delay, whether the Macau-based foreign vessel *Mafei* (Portuguese: *Mafé*, likely a phonetic rendering of *Mafra* or *Mafé*, possibly referring to a vessel from the Portuguese shipbuilding port of Mafra near Lisbon) currently has aboard any ‘ghost-foreigners’ (*guǐzǐ*: a pejorative Qing-era term for unauthorised Westerners, especially those lacking official passports or trade permits under the Canton System) entering the port. A formal report, with full particulars, must be submitted forthwith for review and adjudication by this Office.
Simultaneously, you are to issue an urgent directive to Xiangshan County Magistrate to ascertain—precisely and verifiably—why this foreign vessel, having previously been formally ordered to depart under military escort, has since been permitted to remain at anchor in Macau waters, thereby enabling illicit boarding and disembarkation of unauthorised foreigners. Submit a detailed, factually substantiated report for review and decision-making; no concealment or omission shall be tolerated, as such negligence would prejudice administrative efficacy. Act with utmost urgency.
This edict is issued pursuant to the above instructions, appended hereto on one sheet. Having received these orders, this Office hereby issues the present mandate to the Prefectural Administration, directing the County Magistrate to comply strictly and without delay.
Further, in accordance with the Imperial Commissioner’s edict cited above, you are instructed to ascertain—within the shortest practicable timeframe—and report truthfully to this Office for examination, deliberation, and final determination. No concealment or delay shall be permitted.
It is recorded that two foreign nationals arrived in Macau aboard a three-oared sampan and took up residence there. An earlier edict had ordered their expulsion; the order was duly transmitted to the relevant authorities, who in turn instructed the Chief Foreign Merchant (*dàbān*: the head of the Portuguese *Casa de Comércio* in Macau, functioning as de facto consul) to arrange for their immediate repatriation aboard their vessel and to ensure its prompt departure from Macau waters, with strict prohibition against further anchorage or delay. This matter stands officially documented.
Pursuant to the foregoing, this Office now transmits the case to the Macau Military Command (*Róng Tīng*: the Qing garrison command responsible for Macau’s defence and frontier control), and concurrently issues the present mandate.
Therefore, this mandate is addressed to the designated Chinese community leaders (*mín mù*: locally appointed intermediaries, often *compradores* or elders entrusted with liaison duties between Qing officials and the foreign settlement), including Wēiluōduō (a phonetic rendering of the Portuguese name *Vilhodo* or similar, denoting a specific individual or office-holder), commanding them to comply immediately. Specifically, they are to determine—promptly and with precision—why, despite prior official instruction to expel the aforementioned foreign vessel and enforce its immediate departure, it has nevertheless been allowed to linger in Macau waters, thus facilitating the clandestine embarkation and disembarkation of unauthorised foreigners. A full, truthful, and timely report must be submitted directly to this Office for onward transmission and authoritative determination. Under no circumstances shall there be concealment, prevarication, or dilatory conduct; failure to act with dispatch will occasion serious administrative inconvenience. Act with urgency. Receive this mandate accordingly.
[Marginalia — left margin, vertical]
One sheet attached.
[Stamp — lower left]
[Red square seal bearing illegible characters]
[Stamp — lower centre]
[Red circular seal bearing the character *Dào* (‘Circuit Intendant’), with surrounding inscription illegible]
Page 3
[Page]
[Illegible: approximately four characters, cropped at upper edge]
[Stamp — centred at top]
[Circular red seal: ‘Qianlong 42nd year, ninth month’ (i.e., September 1777)]
[Marginal annotation — left margin]
‘Submitted daily’ (ritual administrative notation indicating routine submission of documents to superior authorities)
[Main text]
County Office
Bamboo Division
First Class Clerk
Daily submission to the Waiting Room for Processing
The above-named clerk, Liang Chang, is hereby authorised to collect and submit documents in accordance with this order.
[Signature]
[Illegible: approximately three characters; likely a personal or official seal impression]
[Stamp — right-hand side, vertical orientation]
[Rectangular red official seal, partially preserved; visible characters include ‘county’ (xiàn) and ‘seal’ (yìn), confirming its status as the official seal of the county yamen]
[Archival reference mark]
T 60