Ofício do mandarim substituto sub-prefeito de Macau, Li, ao procurador de Macau, sobre o transporte de arroz de Shiqi (Seak Kei) para Macau, como forma eficaz de resolver o abastecimento de mantimentos aos moradores locais
Transcription
Page 1
[Page]
T24
[Archival mark]
T24
351
[Marginalia — top left]
T24
[Marginalia — left margin, vertical]
限
日繳
[Stamp — left center, red ink, square]
[Seal: 廣州府澳門海防軍民府印]
[Stamp — top right, red ink, square]
[Seal: 丙號]
[Title]
署廣州澳門海防軍民府候補縣正堂加三級記功一次李
[Main text]
為激切籲懇憲天飭令石岐米石照舊裝運到澳以活唐夷事據該夷目稟請飭令石岐米石照舊織運來澳救活唐夷等情到府據此當即飭竹香山縣諭令米商仍照舊例源源載運到澳售賣以濟糶食去後茲據香山縣倂查稱遵查米石出洋原經卑職示禁但澳門係屬內地渡夫船戶未知分曉是未運接濟并檄飭夷目遵照各在案今卑職分別示飭渡夫船戶照舊一體遵照毋違須牌
[Signature]
右牌仰夷目唩囉哆等准此
[Date]
乾隆三十二年八月 日
[Red character annotation — left side, vertical]
府
竹
林
八
[Red character annotation — bottom right, large]
遵
[Red character annotation — circled in main text]
遵照
[Red character annotation — near signature]
遵
Translation
Page 1
[Page]
T24
[Archival reference]
T24
351
[Marginalia — top left]
T24
[Marginalia — left margin, vertical]
Limit
Daily submission
[Stamp — left centre, red ink, square]
Seal: Seal of the Guangzhou Prefectural Office for Maritime Defence and Civil-Military Administration of Macau
(廣州府澳門海防軍民府印)
[Stamp — top right, red ink, square]
Seal: Serial No. Bing (‘Bing’ designation)
(丙號)
[Title]
Acting Magistrate of the Guangzhou Prefectural Office for Maritime Defence and Civil-Military Administration of Macau; concurrently appointed as a county magistrate of the first rank; awarded three additional seniority grades and one commendation for meritorious service — Li
[Main text]
Regarding an urgent petition submitted by foreign residents in Macau, imploring the honourable Prefect to issue an official order directing that rice from Shiqi (in Xiangshan County) be permitted to resume its customary shipment to Macau, thereby sustaining both Chinese and foreign inhabitants therein.
The petition was submitted by the foreign headman (Yimu), requesting that the authorities reinstate the established practice of shipping rice from Shiqi to Macau to alleviate food shortages affecting both local Chinese residents and foreign (‘Western’) residents.
Upon receipt of this petition, the Prefect immediately issued an official directive to the magistrate of Xiangshan County, instructing rice merchants to recommence shipments to Macau in accordance with long-standing precedent, so as to ensure a continuous supply for sale and distribution, thereby meeting essential subsistence needs.
Subsequently, the magistrate of Xiangshan County reported back, stating that while rice exports had previously been prohibited by his own edict, boatmen and ferry operators serving the Macau route were unaware of this restriction and therefore continued to transport rice to Macau as before—thus providing vital relief. The County Magistrate further confirmed that he had duly transmitted the Prefect’s directive to the foreign headman for compliance. All such actions are duly recorded in the official files.
The undersigned Prefect now hereby issues this formal notice, ordering all ferry operators and boatmen engaged on the Macau route to resume their customary practice without delay and in full compliance with this directive. Failure to comply will be subject to disciplinary action.
[Signature]
This official notice is hereby issued to the foreign headman, known as ‘Wēiluōduō’ [a transliteration of the Portuguese title *Vedor* or *Vedor da Fazenda*, denoting a senior fiscal or administrative official among the Macanese community], and others of like standing. Let them act accordingly.
[Date]
8th day of the 8th lunar month, 32nd year of the Qianlong reign (corresponding to 2 September 1767 CE)
[Red character annotation — left side, vertical]
Prefectural Office
Xiangshan
Lin
Eight
[Red character annotation — bottom right, large]
Comply
[Red character annotation — circled in main text]
Comply
[Red character annotation — near signature]
Comply