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Ofício do magistrado substituto do distrito de Xiangshan, Jin, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a entrega do comprador Wu De-Fei, que trabalha com os estrangeiros de Macau, aos meirinhos, para o levarem ao distrito para ser julgado por um caso de rapto

Resource type
Title
Ofício do magistrado substituto do distrito de Xiangshan, Jin, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a entrega do comprador Wu De-Fei, que trabalha com os estrangeiros de Macau, aos meirinhos, para o levarem ao distrito para ser julgado por um caso de rapto
Abstract
This archival document is an urgent Qing dynasty administrative warrant issued in the twelfth month of the Qianlong thirty-second year (December 1767–January 1768) by the Acting Magistrate of Xiangshan County, Guangzhou Prefecture—identified as Zhang—with three additional ranks of honour and five recorded commendations. It concerns the inter-county transfer (*guān yí*) of jurisdiction over Wu Defei (also known as Dehui), a comprador (*mǎibàn*) serving foreign merchants (*fānguǐ*) in Macau, who stands accused of abduction, enticement, and unlawful flight. The warrant directs the Portuguese-appointed foreign headman (*Yí mù*) Lo Ló Duō—likely a transliteration of Lourenço do Rosário—and other relevant Macau officials to immediately apprehend Wu Defei and surrender him to a designated Xiangshan constable for escort back to Xiangshan County for judicial interrogation and trial. The document bears multiple official seals, including the red rectangular seal of the Magistrate of Xiangshan County (*Xiāngshān Xiàn Zhèngtáng*), marginalia marking it as a ‘red-list document’ (*hóng dān*) signifying high priority, and notation indicating attachment of supporting documentation (the original *guān yí* from Nanhai County). It reflects formal Sino-Portuguese administrative coordination in Macau during the mid-Qing period and constitutes a primary source for studying local governance, cross-jurisdictional legal procedure, and the role of intermediaries in Sino-foreign commercial relations.
Date
1767-12-02
Archive
Portugal. Arquivos Nacionais da Torre do Tombo
Loc. in Archive
PT/TT/DCHN/1/1/000033
Link
Notes

Transcription

Page 1

[Page]
1468
T33
350

[Archival mark — top right]
1468
T33
350

[Stamp — top center]
[Red circular stamp, partially visible: text illegible]

[Stamp — left margin, vertical]
[Red rectangular seal with Chinese characters: 香山縣正堂 (Xiāngshān Xiàn Zhèngtáng)]

[Title]
署廣州府香山縣正堂加三級紀錄五次張

[Main text]
為拐誘夾迯等事現准
南海縣關移前事內開仰希即選差幹役即速前去澳門着令地保刻日
拘出現充番鬼買辦之吳德飛即德輝偹文移觧過縣以凭質訊等
由過縣准此合行提拘爲此牌仰夷目喽囉哆等急照事理文到立
將買辦吳德飛即行輝送出交着來差押帶回縣以凭轉觧收審
該夷目毋得縱放混以空文率覆致干未便速速須牌

[Marginalia — left, vertical]


日繳

[Marginalia — left, below "縣"]
乾隆三十二年十二月

[Marginalia — left, below date]
日承發房承

[Marginalia — center left, vertical red ink]
紅單

[Marginalia — center right, vertical red ink]


[Marginalia — bottom center, vertical]
右仰夷目喽囉哆等准此

[Signature]
[Black circular seal, partially obscured, likely official signature mark]

Translation

Page 1

— PAGE —
1468
T33
350

[Archival reference mark — top right]
1468
T33
350

[Official stamp — top centre]
[Red circular official seal; text partially illegible]

[Official seal — left margin, vertical orientation]
[Red rectangular seal bearing the Chinese characters: 香山縣正堂 (*Xiāngshān Xiàn Zhèngtáng*), i.e. ‘Magistrate of Xiangshan County’]

[Title (official designation)]
Acting Magistrate of Xiangshan County, Guangzhou Prefecture, with three additional ranks of honour and five recorded commendations: Zhang [surname]

[Main text]
Concerning the matters of abduction, enticement, and unlawful flight:
The present document is issued in accordance with a formal inter-county administrative transfer (*guān yí*) received from Nanhai County on the above-mentioned matter. The transfer stipulates that you are to select forthwith a competent and trustworthy constable and dispatch him without delay to Macau, instructing the local *dìbǎo* (village headman or community overseer) to apprehend, within the shortest possible time, Wu Defei—also known as Dehui—who currently serves as comprador (*mǎibàn*, i.e. intermediary and commercial agent) for foreign merchants (*fānguǐ*, lit. ‘barbarian ghosts’, a period-appropriate bureaucratic term for Western traders). He is to be formally documented and transferred to this county for interrogation and judicial examination.

This county having accepted the transfer, it is hereby ordered that the said foreign headman (*Yí mù*, i.e. appointed local representative of the Portuguese administration in Macau), Lo Ló Duō [transliteration of Portuguese name, likely *Lourenço do Rosário* or similar], and other relevant officials, shall immediately comply with the terms herein. Upon receipt of this warrant, they are to surrender Wu Defei (a.k.a. Dehui) forthwith to the arriving constable, who shall escort him back to Xiangshan County for onward transfer to judicial custody and trial.

The said foreign headman is strictly enjoined not to permit Wu Defei’s escape, nor to submit a perfunctory or evasive reply citing non-compliance—such conduct would contravene proper administrative procedure and entail serious consequences. Speed is imperative.

[Left-hand marginalia, vertical]
County Office
Deadline: ___ days for return of compliance

[Below ‘County Office’]
Twelfth month of the thirty-second year of the Qianlong reign (December 1767–January 1768)

[Below date]
Received and processed by the Clerk-in-Charge of the Dispatch Office

[Centre-left marginalia, vertical, in red ink]
‘Red-list document’ (*hóng dān*): indicates urgent or high-priority administrative warrant

[Centre-right marginalia, vertical, in red ink]
‘Attached’ (*lián*): denotes that supporting documentation (e.g., the original *guān yí* from Nanhai County) is enclosed or filed with this instrument

[Bottom-centre marginalia, vertical]
The above directive is addressed to the foreign headman Lo Ló Duō et al.; this warrant is to be executed accordingly.

[Signature block]
[Black circular official seal, partially obscured; consistent with standard Qing magisterial authentication practice]

Citation
Ofício do magistrado substituto do distrito de Xiangshan, Jin, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a entrega do comprador Wu De-Fei, que trabalha com os estrangeiros de Macau, aos meirinhos, para o levarem ao distrito para ser julgado por um caso de rapto. (1767). Portugal. Arquivos Nacionais da Torre do Tombo (PT/TT/DCHN/1/1/000033). http://43.156.68.124/docs/SEK38FWD/viewer_SEK38FWD.html