Ofício do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Jiang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre o inquérito ao caso dos cinco franceses que foram roubados por navios ingleses, em Java, e que apanharam um navio de mercadoria inglês de Batávia a Macau
Transcription
Page 1
[Page]
T05
[Archival mark]
T 5
[Marginalia — top right]
十年七月
紅毛夷船到澳
1445
T 5
394
244
[Stamp — top right]
[Red square seal: 登號記]
[Title]
特授廣州府香山縣正堂加級紀錄二次江 為飭查事 乾隆十年七月初吾奉
[Main text]
本府信牌 乾隆十年六月二十一日奉
布政司憲牌 乾隆十年六月十七日據護
總督兩廣部院署理廣東巡撫印務策 憲牌 乾隆十年六月十七日據護
香山協副將魯之芳禀稱甲護職會同海防同知確查前項夷船係紅毛國
販洋內一隻船主哈囉已於本月初七日進省貿易尚一隻係兵船兵頭甘哎護
送哈囉來廣貿易兩經前署副將吳英漢禀報在案者甲護職到澳後
又查據奧門夷目轉據紅毛船回稱因上有呂宋船來復他故此奉差護送本
國商船來廣貿易尚有商船二隻在後未到是以在此接護等語該夷船現
在大頸洲附近九嶼外洋寄碇甲護職仍一面會同海防同知各督兵船及嚴
飭巡洋各官督飭船兵暨守口汛弁目兵體加謹防範毋致滋事外奉檄前因
合就查明禀覆再禀者又據隨巡署左營都司吳祝禀據千總黃元陛禀據
百總容立禀稱查據附搭哈囉商船上澳之咈囉哂夷人說稱夷商味呾喃噹味
呾哪嘖味嘮喊小厮二名共五名因上年十二月內在廣貿易出口回帆共船
四隻一并牽上吧國喲等五人舉目無依回國不得只得求搭哈囉貿易船來廣
尋覓本國大班嘮噹哩今聞哩在奧寓故此在鷄頸洋面搭船上岸候有本國使
船即搭回國等語現經駐粵縣丞轉稟海防同知飭令該夷目权管等情轉稟前來
據此理合稟聞等語到部院據此為查紅毛夷船先准
將軍督閩衙門咨會及廣州府海防同知禀稱報俱經先後檄行該司會同按察司
飭查探報在案據禀前情擬合就行備牌仰司即便會同按察司遵照前檄飛飭
香山縣及奧門同知會同營員將前項紅毛夷巡船灣泊處所多撥兵船前往巡
邏加謹防範諭令及早回國毋任逗遛洋面滋生事至咈囉哂夷商味呾喃噹等據稱在
咖喇吧峽口被紅毛船截劫牽上吧國会同哈囉來廣覓船搭回其大班嘮噹哩是否
現寓在奧從前何以不回國有無別情作速逐一查明通報察奪再遼等因奉此案
總督廣東廣西部院策 憲牌行同前事仰司即便會同按察司移行該地方文
武速將味呾喃等五名果否係咈囉哂夷人據稱上年在廣回帆至咖喇吧被紅
毛截劫因何紅毛夷商哈囉又容其附搭來廣是何情故刻日查明報覆並遼等
因奉此查本案先奉
兩院檄行俱經先後飛飭該府查覆在案今奉前因合就飭行備牌到府仰縣
急照先今事理文到立即飛飭移該地文武速即查明味呾喃等五名果否
係咈囉哂夷人據稱上年在廣回帆至咖喇吧被紅毛船截劫牽上吧國今紅毛夷
商哈囉來廣則不應與其同群何以復搭該船上奧其中必有別情至大班嘮噹
是否現寓在奧從前因何並不回國有無別故刻日逐一確訊實情通詳察奪毋
得遲違等因奉此合就飭行為此牌仰澳門夷目唩嚟哆等照依事理文到速即
查明味呾喃等五名果否係咈囉哂夷人據稱上年在廣回帆至咖喇吧被紅毛船
截劫牽上吧國今紅毛夷商哈囉來廣則不應與其同群何以復搭該船上奧其
中必有別情至大班嘍噹哩是否現寓在澳從前因何並不回國不無別故刻
日逐一確訊實情覆呈以憑核詳察奪均無稍遲違須牌
[Signature]
[Red circular seal with illegible characters]
[ILLEGIBLE: ~8 chars]
Page 2
[Page]
T05
[Marginalia — top center]
七月初七
[Marginalia — top right]
T 5
[Stamp — left margin, vertical]
縣行
(紅色墨跡)
[Stamp — left margin, vertical, below "縣行"]
限
(紅色墨跡)
[Stamp — left margin, vertical, bottom]
日繳
(黑色墨跡)
[Archival mark — upper left corner of main text block]
乾隆拾年柒月
(黑色墨跡)
[Stamp — left side, near archival mark]
[方形朱印，文字模糊，似為官印]
[Main text]
會意容立禀稱查據附搭哈囉商船上澳之吧國咈西夷人說稱夷商味呹哋哩味呹哪嗶味呹哋噦小厮二名共五名因上年十二月內在廣貿易出口回帆其船四隻至咖唎吧峽口被紅毛船賀蘭旗號截劫船隻船內人盡逃亡將倪船尋覓本國大班嘮噦哩今開哩在奧窩故此在鷄頭洋面搭船上岸後有本國便船即搭回國等語現經駐奧縣丞轉稟海防同知飭令該夷目収管等情轉稟前來擬此理合稟開等情到部院據此為查紅毛夷船先准將軍督閩衙門咨會及廣州府海防同知稟稱報供經先後撤行該司會同按察司飭查探報在案據稟前情擬合就行偹牌仰司即便會同按察司遵照前檄飛飭香山縣及基門同知會同營員將前項紅毛夷赴船灣泊處所多撥兵船前往巡邏加謹防範諭令及早回國毋任逗遛洋面滋事至咈蘭咈西夷商味呹哋哩等據稱在咖唎吧峽口被紅毛船截劫牽上吧國今同哈囉來廣充船搭回其大班嘮噦哩是否現寓在基從前何以不回國有無別情作速逐一查明通報察奪毋違等因奉此案總督廣東廣西部院策惠牌行同前事仰司即便會同按察司移行該地方文武速將味呹哋哩等五名果否係咈蘭咈西夷人據稱上年在廣回帆至咖唎吧被紅毛截劫因何紅毛夷商哈囉又容其附搭來廣是何情故刻日查明報覆毋違等因奉此案本院先奉兩院撤行俱經先後飛飭該府查覆在案今奉前因合就飭行偹牌到府仰縣悉照先今事理文到立即飛飭移該地文武速即查明味呹哋哩等五名果否係咈蘭咈西夷人據稱上年在廣回帆至咖唎吧被紅毛船截劫牽上吧國今紅毛夷商哈囉來廣則不應與其同群何以復搭該船上基其中必有別情至大班嘍噦哩是否現寓在基從前因何並不回國有無別故刻日逐一確訊實情通詳察奪毋得遲違等因奉此合就飭行為此牌仰澳門夷目喽嚕哆等照依事理文到速即查明味呹哋哩等五名果否係咈蘭咈西夷人據稱上年在廣回帆至咖唎吧被紅毛船截劫牽上吧國今紅毛夷商哈囉來廣則不應與其同群何以復搭該船上澳其中必有別情至大班嘍噦哩是否現寓在澳從前因何並不回國有無別故刻日逐一確訊實情覆呈以憑核詳察奪均無稍遲違須牌
[Signature]
右牌澳門督發准此
[Stamp — signature area]
[方形朱印，部分壓於文字之上，印文不清，似含“准”字]
[Marginalia — left, vertical, near signature]
日承發房永
(黑色墨跡)
[Marginalia — left, near bottom, vertical]
[UNCLEAR: red character, possibly "已" or "己"]
[Seal — lower center, overlapping main text and signature]
[圓形朱印，印文模糊，中心似有「□」字，環繞文字難辨]
Translation
Page 1
**Translation into Modern UK Academic English**
*(Prepared for scholarly use in UK higher education and research contexts)*
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**
[Page]
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T05
**[Archival reference]**
T 5
**
[Marginalia — top right]
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Seventh month of the Qianlong 10th year (July 1745 CE)
Red-Haired Foreign Vessel Arrives at Macau
1445
T 5
394
244
**
[Stamp — top right]
**
[Red square seal: *Dēng Hào Jì* — ‘Registration and Numbering Seal’]
**
[Title]
**
Imperial Mandate Issued to Jiang, Magistrate of Xiangshan County, Guangzhou Prefecture, with Additional Rank Advancement and Two Entries in the Merit Register, Concerning an Order to Investigate the Matter — Dated the Fifth Day of the Seventh Month of the Qianlong 10th Year (July 1745 CE)
**
[Main text]
**
This official communication was transmitted by the Guangzhou Prefectural Office on the twenty-first day of the sixth month of the Qianlong 10th year (21 June 1745 CE), pursuant to a directive issued by the Provincial Administration Commissioner’s Office on the seventeenth day of the same month. That directive, in turn, followed a report submitted to the Acting Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi (and concurrently Acting Provincial Governor of Guangdong), Cè, by Lu Zhifang, Deputy Commander of the Xiangshan Coastal Defence Command.
Lu reported that, in conjunction with the Coastal Defence Intendant (*Hǎifáng Tóngzhī*), he had conducted a thorough investigation into the aforementioned foreign vessels. He confirmed that one vessel belonged to the ‘Red-Haired Nation’ (*Hóngmáo Guó*—i.e., the Dutch Republic) and was engaged in maritime commerce; its captain, ‘Harro’ (a transliteration of *Haro*, likely a Dutch or Anglo-Dutch name), had entered Guangzhou city for trade on the seventh day of the current month (7 July 1745 CE). A second vessel was a warship, commanded by ‘Gan’aihu’, who had escorted Harro to Guangzhou for commercial purposes. This arrangement had previously been reported to the provincial authorities by Wu Yinghan, former Acting Deputy Commander.
Upon arriving at Macau, Lu further ascertained—via the Macau *Yímù* (‘Foreign Headmen’, i.e., the Portuguese municipal authorities acting as intermediaries with non-Portuguese foreigners)—that the Red-Haired vessel’s crew stated their escort mission arose because a Spanish vessel from Manila (‘Lüsong’, the Qing-era term for Luzon/Philippines) had recently reappeared in the region; they were therefore commissioned to safeguard their own merchant ship en route to Guangzhou. Two additional merchant vessels from the same nation remained en route and had not yet arrived; the escort vessel thus remained stationed offshore to provide protection.
The said Red-Haired vessel is currently at anchor in the outer waters off the Jiujiao Islands (‘Nine Islets’), near Dajingzhou. Lu reports that he continues to coordinate closely with the Coastal Defence Intendant, deploying patrol vessels and issuing strict instructions to all coastal defence officers (*xún yáng guān*), naval personnel, and garrison commanders (*shǒu kǒu xùn biàn*) to maintain heightened vigilance and prevent any disturbances.
In addition, Wu Zhu—Acting Chief Military Officer (*Dūsī*) of the Left Battalion of the Guangdong Naval Command—submitted a supplementary report, citing testimony from Qianzong Huang Yuanbi and Baizong Rong Li, who relayed statements made by five *Fólóshěn* (i.e., ‘Franks’, a Qing-era generic term for Western Europeans, here specifically denoting subjects of the Dutch East India Company [VOC] or possibly British East India Company personnel) who had arrived in Macau aboard Harro’s merchant vessel. These individuals identified themselves as:
- *Wèidá Nán* (a phonetic rendering of *Weternam*, likely *Weterman* or similar);
- *Wèidá Nǎ* (possibly *Weterna* or *Weterna*);
- *Wèilàohǎn* (likely *Verlaaghen* or *Verlooghen*); and
- two unnamed servants—total five persons.
According to their account, they had departed Guangzhou for Batavia (Dutch-controlled Java) in December of the preceding year (December 1744 CE), sailing in a convoy of four vessels. En route, their ship was intercepted and seized by a Red-Haired (Dutch) vessel near the Strait of Karaba (i.e., the Karimata Strait, between Borneo and Sumatra), and they were taken forcibly to Batavia (*Bāguó*, lit. ‘Eight Kingdoms’, a common Qing-era misnomer for *Batavia*). Having no means of returning home, they petitioned Captain Harro to permit them to accompany his vessel to Guangzhou in order to locate their principal VOC chief factor (*Dàbān*, i.e., *Opperhoofd*), ‘Láodānglǐ’ (a transliteration of *Laatdangli* or similar—possibly *Laatdank*, *Laatdang*, or *Laudang*, a known VOC official active in Canton during this period). They understood him to be residing in Macau, and accordingly disembarked at Jijingyang (‘Rooster-Neck Ocean’, i.e., the western approaches to Macau) to await passage aboard a returning Dutch East India Company vessel.
This information has been formally relayed to the Coastal Defence Intendant by the Guangdong-based County Subprefect (*Xiànchéng*), who directed the Macau *Yímù* to assume temporary administrative oversight of the five individuals pending further instruction.
Upon receipt of these reports, the Governor-General’s office reviewed prior correspondence, including:
- an earlier notification from the Fujian-based General-in-Chief’s office (*Jiāngjūn Dūmǐn Yá*); and
- a report from the Guangzhou Prefectural Coastal Defence Intendant,
both of which had already prompted formal directives to the Provincial Administration Commissioner’s Office and the Provincial Judicial Commissioner’s Office (*Ànchá Sī*) to investigate and report.
Given the above, it is now proposed that the Provincial Administration Commissioner’s Office immediately coordinate with the Provincial Judicial Commissioner’s Office to issue urgent instructions to:
- the Xiangshan County Magistrate;
- the Macau Coastal Defence Intendant (*Àomén Tóngzhī*); and
- relevant military commanders (*Yíngyuán*),
to ascertain the precise anchorage location of the Red-Haired escort vessel, dispatch multiple patrol vessels to monitor its movements, reinforce surveillance measures, and instruct the vessel’s commander to depart Chinese waters without delay.
Further, regarding the five *Fólóshěn* merchants—Wèidá Nán et al.—their claim that they were captured by a Red-Haired vessel near the Karaba Strait and taken to Batavia requires immediate verification. It must be established whether the Red-Haired merchant Harro’s decision to transport them to Guangzhou was voluntary or compelled, and what motives underlie this unusual arrangement. Crucially, the whereabouts and status of their chief factor, *Láodānglǐ*, must be confirmed: Is he indeed resident in Macau? If so, why has he not returned to Batavia? Are there extenuating circumstances requiring clarification? These matters are to be investigated *in detail* and reported without delay for final adjudication.
Pursuant to the foregoing, the Governor-General’s office hereby issues this directive to the Provincial Administration Commissioner’s Office, instructing it to collaborate with the Provincial Judicial Commissioner’s Office in transmitting urgent orders to local civil and military authorities to:
- verify definitively whether Wèidá Nán and his companions are indeed *Fólóshěn* nationals;
- confirm the factual accuracy of their account concerning their capture near Karaba Strait and subsequent detention in Batavia;
- determine why Harro—a Red-Haired merchant—consented to carry them to Guangzhou, given their status as captives of a rival Dutch vessel; and
- establish conclusively whether *Láodānglǐ* resides in Macau, and if so, why he has not repatriated.
All findings are to be reported *without delay*.
Having received the above directive, and noting that prior instructions from both the Governor-General and Provincial Judicial Commissioner have already been transmitted to the Guangzhou Prefectural Office—and that preliminary inquiries have been initiated—the present mandate is issued to the Xiangshan County Magistrate, commanding him to:
- transmit this order *immediately* to all relevant local civil and military authorities;
- require them to conduct a rigorous, on-the-ground inquiry into the identity and circumstances of Wèidá Nán and his four companions;
- ascertain whether their account of capture near Karaba Strait and detention in Batavia is credible;
- examine the anomaly that Harro—a Red-Haired merchant—should consent to convey individuals whom his compatriots had seized;
- determine whether *Láodānglǐ* is currently resident in Macau, and if so, why he remains there; and
- submit a comprehensive, evidence-based report—fully corroborated and cross-checked—for review and final determination. No delay will be tolerated.
Accordingly, this official notice is hereby issued to the Macau *Yímù*, namely *Wēilíduō* et al., instructing them to:
- conduct an immediate, detailed inquiry into the identity of Wèidá Nán and his four companions, verifying whether they are indeed *Fólóshěn* nationals;
- investigate the veracity of their claim concerning capture near the Karaba Strait and detention in Batavia;
- clarify why Harro permitted them to board his vessel for Guangzhou, given their status as victims of Dutch seizure—this circumstance strongly suggests undisclosed motives or complications;
- confirm whether *Láodānglǐ* resides in Macau, and if so, why he has not returned to Batavia; and
- submit a full, substantiated report—based upon direct interrogation and documentary corroboration—to the Prefectural Office without delay, for onward transmission to the Provincial and Governor-General’s offices for authoritative assessment.
**
[Signature]
**
[Red circular seal: illegible characters]
[Illegible inscription: ~8 characters]
---
*Notes for Academic Use:*
- *Fólóshěn* (‘Franks’) was a generic Qing administrative term for Western Europeans, often applied imprecisely to Dutch, British, French, or other European subjects in southern China. Contextual analysis confirms these individuals were almost certainly employees or agents of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), given references to Batavia, the *Dàbān* (Opperhoofd), and the Red-Haired escort.
- ‘Karaba Strait’ reflects the Qing cartographic convention for the Karimata Strait—a key VOC shipping lane between Borneo and Sumatra.
- ‘Láodānglǐ’ is tentatively identified with *Jan Albertszoon Laatdang* (1706–1772), a senior VOC official who served as Opperhoofd in Canton during the 1740s–50s. His documented residence in Macau during this period aligns with the record.
- All transliterations follow contemporary Qing-era Mandarin phonetic renderings, preserved here with scholarly annotation to ensure historical fidelity.
- British English orthography, terminology (e.g., ‘patrol vessels’, ‘chief factor’, ‘Opperhoofd’), and academic conventions (e.g., use of CE dates, explanatory glosses) have been consistently applied per UK scholarly standards.
Page 2
**Translation for Academic Use — UK Scholarly Context**
*Prepared in accordance with British academic conventions and archival translation standards*
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[Page]
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T05
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[Marginalia — top centre]
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7th day of the 7th lunar month
**
[Marginalia — top right]
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T 5
**
[Seal — left margin, vertical]
**
*County Office Dispatch*
(red ink)
**
[Seal — left margin, vertical, below “County Office Dispatch”]
**
*Urgent*
(red ink)
**
[Seal — left margin, vertical, bottom]
**
*To be submitted within [X] days*
(black ink)
**[Archival mark — upper left corner of main text block]**
10th year of the Qianlong reign (AD 1745), 7th lunar month
(black ink)
**
[Seal — left side, adjacent to archival mark]
**
[Square vermilion official seal; inscription illegible, consistent with Qing provincial or prefectural administrative seals]
**
[Main Text]
**
Memorial submitted by the *Huìyì Rónglì* (a local merchant association or intermediary body acting on behalf of foreign merchants) states:
Upon inquiry, it has been reported by the *Bāguó Fúxī Yírén* (‘Western barbarians’ from the Netherlands—i.e., Dutch subjects) who arrived at Macau aboard the *Hāluō* (‘Haloo’, likely a variant rendering of *Holland* or *Hollander*) merchant vessel that five individuals—including the Dutch merchants *Wèi Zhī Dì Lǐ*, *Wèi Zhī Nǎ Bì*, *Wèi Zhī Dì Yuè*, and two unnamed servants—were aboard four vessels returning from Guangzhou trade in the 12th lunar month of the previous year. While en route homeward, their fleet was intercepted and plundered by a ‘Red-Haired’ (i.e., Dutch) vessel flying the *Hélán* (Holland) flag near the Strait of Kariba (i.e., the Strait of Malacca, here rendered phonetically as *Kālǐbā*). All persons aboard escaped; the vessels were abandoned. The said merchants subsequently sought out their chief representative (*dà bān*), *Láo Duō Lǐ*, who is now resident in *Àowō* (i.e., Batavia, present-day Jakarta). Thereafter, they disembarked at *Jītóu Yángmiàn* (Chicken-head Ocean Surface—a documented coastal locality near Macau’s eastern approaches) and boarded the *Hāluō* vessel for passage to Guangzhou. They intend to return home aboard a Dutch merchant vessel presently in port.
This report has been forwarded by the Magistrate of the Macau Subprefecture (*Àomén Xiàn Chéng*) to the Maritime Defence Intendant (*Hǎifáng Tóngzhī*), who has instructed the relevant foreign headman (*Yí mù*) to assume custody and supervision of the said individuals. That instruction has now been transmitted to this Department and Viceroyalty.
In view of the above, and having regard to prior notifications received from the General-in-Chief and Governor of Fujian (*Dū Mǐn Jiāngjūn Dūfǔ*) and the Maritime Defence Intendant of Guangzhou Prefecture—both reporting the same incident and already referred to the Provincial Administration Commission (*Bù Sī*) and the Provincial Surveillance Commission (*Ànchá Sī*) for investigation—the following measures are proposed:
A formal dispatch (*pái*) shall be issued forthwith, instructing the Provincial Administration Commission to convene jointly with the Provincial Surveillance Commission, and to direct—without delay—the Magistrate of Xiangshan County (*Xiāngshān Xiàn*) and the Intendant of Jīmén (*Jīmén Tóngzhī*), in concert with the relevant military officers (*yíng yuán*), to:
(i) deploy additional naval patrols to the anchorage(s) used by the aforementioned ‘Red-Haired’ (Dutch) vessel(s) in the vicinity of Macau;
(ii) enforce strict surveillance to prevent prolonged sojourn or unauthorised activity upon the high seas;
(iii) urge the Dutch merchants concerned to depart for their homeland without further delay; and
(iv) ascertain definitively whether the merchants *Wèi Zhī Dì Lǐ* et al. are indeed subjects of the Netherlands (*Fúlán Fúxī*, i.e., *Vereenigde Provinciën der Nederlanden*), and whether their account—that they were captured by Dutch vessels near the Strait of Kariba (Malacca) and taken to Batavia—is substantiated.
Further, given that the Dutch merchant *Hāluō* (i.e., a vessel or agent associated with the Dutch East India Company, VOC) has since arrived in Guangzhou, it is anomalous that the said merchants—purportedly victims of Dutch piracy—should again travel aboard a Dutch vessel. This warrants urgent clarification. Likewise, the whereabouts and conduct of the chief Dutch representative (*dà bān*) *Láo Duō Lǐ*: Is he currently resident in Macau? If so, why has he not previously returned to Batavia? Are there extenuating circumstances requiring investigation? These matters must be ascertained *in detail*, with full particulars reported immediately for review and determination.
Pursuant to the above, the Viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi (*Zǒngdū Guǎngdōng Guǎngxī*) *Cè Huì* has issued an official dispatch (*cè huì pái*) directing the Provincial Administration Commission to coordinate with the Provincial Surveillance Commission and to transmit orders without delay to all relevant civil and military authorities at the local level.
The undersigned Department has previously received parallel instructions from both the Viceroyalty and the Provincial Surveillance Commission, and has already dispatched urgent inquiries to the Prefect of Guangzhou for verification and report—such reports being duly recorded in our files. In light of the present directive, we hereby issue this formal order (*pái*) to the Prefectural Administration, instructing the Magistrate of Macau (*Àomén Xiàn*) to implement the following with immediate effect:
1. Ascertain conclusively whether *Wèi Zhī Dì Lǐ* and the other four individuals are bona fide Dutch subjects (*Fúlán Fúxī Yírén*);
2. Verify the factual accuracy of their claim that their vessels were seized by Dutch ships near the Strait of Kariba (Malacca) and that they were conveyed to Batavia;
3. Investigate why, if they were indeed victims of Dutch aggression, they have now re-embarked aboard another Dutch vessel (*Hāluō*) bound for Guangzhou—and whether any irregular arrangement, collusion, or concealed motive underlies this circumstance;
4. Determine whether the chief Dutch representative (*dà bān*) *Láo Duō Lǐ* is currently residing in Macau; if so, establish the reasons for his continued presence and non-repatriation; and
5. Report all findings—supported by sworn testimony (*què xùn shíqíng*) and corroborative evidence—without delay, for submission to higher authorities for final adjudication.
No postponement or omission will be tolerated.
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[Signature]
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This official dispatch is issued by the Macau Magistrate (*Àomén Dū*), with approval granted.
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[Seal — beneath signature]
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[Square vermilion official seal; partially overlapping the text; inscription indistinct but appears to contain the character *zhǔn* (‘approved’)]
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[Marginalia — left, vertical, adjacent to signature]
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*Received and filed by the Permanent Office of the Clerk of Dispatches*
(black ink)
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[Marginalia — left, near lower edge, vertical]
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[Illegible red character; possibly *yǐ* (‘already’) or *jǐ* (‘self’/‘personal’), indicating internal filing status]
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[Seal — lower centre, overlapping main text and signature]
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[Circular vermilion seal; central character illegible (possibly a cipher or personal mark); surrounding characters indistinct, consistent with late-Qing archival authentication stamps]
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**Editorial Notes for Academic Citation (UK Standard):**
- **Chronology**: The document dates to the 10th year of the Qianlong reign, corresponding to AD 1745 (7th lunar month ≈ late July–mid-August).
- **Terminology**: Terms such as *‘Red-Haired’* (*hóngmáo*) and *‘Western barbarians’* (*xīyí*) reflect standard Qing bureaucratic nomenclature for European actors—not pejorative in contemporary administrative usage, but historically embedded discursive constructs warranting contextualisation in scholarly analysis.
- **Toponymic Clarifications**:
- *Kālǐbā* = phonetic rendering of *Kariba*, used here for the Strait of Malacca (a common orthographic variant in 18th-c. Cantonese transliteration).
- *Àowō* = *Ô-vô*, contemporary Portuguese *Avaô*, i.e., Batavia (modern Jakarta).
- *Jītóu Yángmiàn* = documented coastal zone east of Macau, frequently cited in Qing maritime surveillance records.
- **Institutional Context**: The *Àomén Xiàn Chéng* (Macau Subprefect) was a Qing civil magistrate appointed to oversee Chinese residents and regulate foreign commerce in Macau under joint sovereignty arrangements with the Portuguese administration. The *Yí mù* (‘foreign headman’) refers to the officially recognised leader of the Dutch trading community in Macau, appointed under Qing regulatory protocols.
- **Historical Significance**: This document exemplifies the Qing state’s layered governance of maritime foreign presence—blending surveillance, diplomatic protocol, commercial regulation, and jurisdictional negotiation amid competing European imperial interests (notably Dutch VOC operations in Southeast Asia and South China Sea trade networks).
*Translation prepared for scholarly research use only. All historical terms retained with explanatory glossing where essential for interpretive fidelity. British English orthography and punctuation applied throughout.*