Ofício do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a compra de rapé

Resource type

Title

Abstract

This imperial edict, dated 16th day of the fifth lunar month in the sixty-first year of the Kangxi Emperor’s reign (1722 CE), and reissued with marginalia referencing the forty-first year of the Qianlong reign (1776 CE), is a formal administrative directive issued by Magistrate Yang of Xiangshan County to Wei Luo Duo, the Foreign Headman in Macau. The document concerns the regulation of foreign merchants resident in Macau and their trading vessels, specifically addressing the consignment of opium—measured in *lā*, a local unit approximating 0.57 kg—and snuff (*rapé*), identified with its Portuguese term and literal translation. It instructs the Foreign Headman to ensure that over four hundred *lā* of opium be reserved for official collection by county officers, who would subsequently settle the agreed price; merchants are explicitly prohibited from delaying or withholding delivery. The edict notes repeated deferrals causing administrative delay and adverse impact upon the tribute ceremony, which it deems unsuitable. Marginal annotations indicate archival classification (T4/, T41) and identification numbers (No. 168; Person No. 76). The text bears an official red square seal of indeterminate inscription. As a primary source, this document provides direct evidence of Qing dynasty provincial oversight of foreign trade, opium procurement practices, bureaucratic protocol, and Sino-Portuguese administrative interaction in Macau during the early eighteenth century.

Date

1776-06-30

URL

http://43.156.68.124/docs/BF82I6JA/viewer_BF82I6JA.html

Translation

Page 1

[Page]
16th day of the fifth lunar month in the sixty-first year of the reign of the Kangxi Emperor (1722 CE)

[Marginalia — centred]
Imperial Edict
No. 168
T4/
Person No. 76

Page 2

Magistrate Yang of Xiangshan County
To the Foreign Headman, Wei Luo Duo

You are hereby instructed to take notice that foreign merchants resident in Macau, together with their trading vessels, have now returned to Macau in successive batches. With them, they have brought back snuff (Portuguese: *rapé*; lit. ‘nasal tobacco’).

Page 3

The foreign headman was immediately instructed to inform the foreign merchants that they were to reserve over four hundred *lā* (a unit of weight, approximately equivalent to 1.25 lb or 0.57 kg) of opium, pending further instructions.
The county magistrate’s officers would shortly arrive to collect the consignment and settle the agreed price; merchants were expressly forbidden from delaying or withholding delivery at that stage.

Page 4

The matter has repeatedly been deferred, causing delay and inconvenience;
the tribute ceremony has thereby been adversely affected. This is deemed unsuitable.
Accordingly, this official directive is hereby issued.

Page 5

[Stamp — centred]
[Red square seal bearing illegible seal script]

[Main text]
In the forty-first year of the Qianlong reign, fifth month,
auspicious day — imperial edict.

[Marginalia — right]
T41

Transcription

Page 1

[Page]
16 de 5 luna do anno 61 de
Xin-lum

[Marginalia — center]
諭
168
T41
1776

Page 2

[Main text]
香山縣正堂楊
諭夷目唩囉
哆知悉照得駐澳夷人商船已
陸續回澳所有帶回鼻煙該

Page 3

[Main text]
夷目即傳知夷商預留四百餘
辣聼候
本縣差役到取給價不得臨

Page 4

[Main text]
時多方推諉有悞
貢典致干未便特諭

Page 5

[Stamp — center]
[Red square seal with illegible seal script]

[Main text]
乾隆四十一年五月
吉
日諭

[Marginalia — right]
T41

Citation

Ofício do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a compra de rapé. (1776). Portugal. Arquivos Nacionais da Torre do Tombo (PT/TT/DCHN/1/1/000041). http://43.156.68.124/docs/BF82I6JA/viewer_BF82I6JA.html

Primary Sources

Location
- Portugal
  - Arquivo Nacional. Torre do Tombo
    - Documentos em Chinês
      - Chapas Sínicas
        Maço 1

Document

1776 - Ofício do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a compra de rapé.pdf

Link to this record

https://bdm-biblio.usj.edu.mo/bibliography/BF82I6JA