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Ofício do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a compra de rapé, para ser enviado a Corte de Pequim, como tributo primaveril de Guangdong
Transcription
Page 1
[Marginalia — left]
未發
[Marginalia — right]
二十二日到
[Main text]
諭
[Main text — handwritten numbers]
366
754
人444
Page 2
[Stamp — top right]
[Red seal: 香山縣正堂]
[Main text]
香山縣正堂楊 諭澳門夷目安嗓
哆等知悉本年六月初九日奉
總督兩廣部堂楊 憲諭照得每
年春間應
Page 3
[Main text]
貢進端節方物內有鼻煙一項向係該縣
承辦先經諭令查照往例辦足於本年
十一月內專差賫繳在案茲本部堂現
擬進京
Page 4
[Main text]
陛見所有前項方物應即呈送合就諭遵諭
到該縣即便遵照將鼻煙一項敬謹選
擇上好真正洋煙務於本部堂未起程
進京之前專差賫繳以憑揀選裝箱
Page 5
[Main text]
貯候
貢進等因奉此查本案先奉
督憲諭飭採辦業經轉諭遵照在案
茲奉前因合亟諭催諭到該夷目等
Page 6
[Main text]
即便遵照乘此洋船陸續回澳立將各船
帶囗頂上鼻烟并合式花樣瓶盖羅璇務
須逐一収存開價馳稟
本縣以便差人採買毋得先行私賣有悮
Page 7
[Marginalia — right]
貢典大干未便母違特諭
[Stamp — right]
[Circular red ink stamp encircling the above text]
[Annotation — right]
[Red ink checkmark below the stamped text]
Page 8
[Stamp — center]
[Red square seal with Chinese characters: 乾隆四十二年六月十八日]
[Marginalia — left]
T54
Translation
Page 1
[Margin note — left]
Not dispatched
[Margin note — right]
Arrived on the 22nd
[Main text]
Imperial Edict
[Main text — handwritten numerals]
366
754
444 persons
Page 2
[Stamp — top right]
[Red seal: Magistrate of Xiangshan County]
[Main text]
Yáng, Magistrate of Xiangshan County, hereby issues the following proclamation to António da Silva (‘An Sǎo’), headman of the foreign community in Macau, and others concerned:
Be it known that on the ninth day of the sixth lunar month of this year, the Magistrate received an official edict from Yáng, Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces, which states, inter alia, that the annual springtime requisition—
Page 3
[Main text]
Among the tribute goods presented for the Duanjie Festival, snuff is included as one item. This has traditionally been the responsibility of the said county to procure and supply. Previously, instructions were issued directing the county to ascertain and adhere to established precedent, and to ensure that the requisite quantity was duly prepared and dispatched by special courier no later than November of this year—a matter already recorded in official correspondence. The present Provincial High Commissioner now intends to proceed to the capital.
Page 4
All the tribute items listed above are to be presented forthwith; you are hereby instructed accordingly.
Upon receipt of this directive, the relevant county magistrate is to comply immediately, selecting with due care and reverence a quantity of high-quality, authentic foreign snuff (‘yangyan’ – i.e., European snuff, historically imported via maritime trade). This is to be dispatched under special courier to the Provincial Administration Office prior to the departure of this High Commissioner for the capital, so that it may be duly inspected, sorted, and packed into cases.
Page 5
Awaiting instructions
Regarding the present matter, it was previously directed—pursuant to an official instruction issued by the Governor-General—that procurement be undertaken; this directive having been duly transmitted and acknowledged for compliance.
In view of the foregoing, you are hereby formally instructed—and urgently reminded—to proceed without delay. This notice is addressed to the foreign headmen concerned.
Page 6
[Main text]
Even though travelling aboard this ocean-going vessel, those returning to Macau must immediately deliver to the county authorities all ships’ cargoes—including snuff (nasal tobacco) and appropriately styled bottle caps—carefully collected and itemised, with prices clearly stated in a formal report dispatched without delay.
This is required so that the county magistrate may despatch officials to purchase the goods; no private sale is to be conducted beforehand, under penalty of official censure.
Page 7
[Marginal note — right]
‘The tribute regulations are of great significance; it would be inappropriate to contravene them. This instruction is issued expressly for that purpose.’
[Stamp — right]
[Circular red ink seal enclosing the above marginal note]
[Annotation — right]
[Red ink tick mark beneath the stamped text]
Page 8
[Stamp — centred]
[Red square seal bearing the Chinese characters: ‘Eighteenth day of the sixth month, forty-second year of the Qianlong reign’ (AD 1777)]
[Marginal note — left-hand margin]
T54