Consular letter about prohibition of rice exports from China to Macau
Transcription
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1898 Consulado em Cantão Dr. E. S. P.
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``` CONSULADO DE PORTUGAL EM CANTÃO Nº 1 [UNCLEAR: date handwritten in red ink] inibição da exportação do arroz à China para ela. Sua Excelência o Vice-Rei de Cantão proíbito a expor- tação do arroz, além do excedente do dinário, com alguma sigla. A atitude de Sua Excelência não ser o seguinte: Sua Excelência o Vice-Rei de Cantão proíbito a expor- tação do arroz, além do excedente do dinário, com alguma sigla. A atitude de Sua Excelência não ser o seguinte: [Signed: J. M. e L. S.
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```plaintext .por esta ocasião, venho dizer a V. que "na comunicação Serte anmento (o ano) ao Governo de Sua Majestade terei o prazer em emprestar no manifestei se agradar ao habitante; Serta Colonia o abantecimento do genero é dificil em medidas prohibitivas da autoridade Superior dos Dois Kmargos" posso com a manejacao minissima dos tinfecto, e do bom resultado obtido. Seve ter sido conhecimento a V. por a S. E. o Ministro, Sa Marinha.
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Deus guarde a V. Exa. Ilmo. Sr. L. Ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros.
Translation
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1898 Consulate in Canton, Dr. E. S. P.
(Note: The original text appears to be a heading or reference entry, likely from an archival record or official document. "Consulado" is Portuguese for "Consulate," and "Cantão" is the Portuguese rendering of "Canton," the historical name for Guangzhou. The designation "Dr. E. S. P." likely refers to an individual—possibly a medical officer or consular official—with initials denoting their name. Given the context of 19th-century colonial administration and diplomatic records, this entry would have been used in Portuguese colonial or consular documentation related to China. In modern UK academic English, the translation preserves the date, location, and title while rendering it in standard British English usage appropriate for scholarly citation.)
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CONSULATE OF PORTUGAL IN CANTON No. 1 [UNCLEAR: date handwritten in red ink]
Prohibition of rice exports to China for its own use. His Excellency the Viceroy of Canton prohibited the exportation of rice, beyond the surplus required for the local supply, under certain regulations. The attitude of His Excellency was not as follows: His Excellency the Viceroy of Canton prohibited the exportation of rice, beyond the surplus required for the local supply, under certain regulations. The attitude of His Excellency was not as follows:
[Signed: J. M. e L. S.]
**Notes on Translation and Context:**
- *Consulado de Portugal em Cantão*: Translated as "Consulate of Portugal in Canton" (Canton being the historical British English rendering of Guangzhou).
- *inibição da exportação do arroz à China para ela*: Interpreted as "prohibition of rice exports to China for its own use", reflecting the likely intent that rice was being exported from foreign sources (e.g., Portuguese territories) into China, which was then restricted by Chinese authorities. The phrasing suggests a restriction imposed by the Chinese administration on outward movement of rice, possibly to safeguard domestic supply.
- *Sua Excelência o Vice-Rei de Cantão*: Translated as "His Excellency the Viceroy of Canton" — a standard title used in 19th-century diplomatic correspondence referring to the Qing imperial official governing the region.
- *excedente do dinário*: Rendered as "surplus required for the local supply"; *dinário* refers to the daily allowance or subsistence ration, here extended metaphorically to mean the amount of rice necessary to meet local consumption needs.
- *com alguma sigla*: Translated as "under certain regulations" — the original implies some formal administrative or bureaucratic procedure (possibly a seal or official decree), but the exact nature is unclear; thus, a neutral scholarly interpretation is provided.
- The repetition of the sentence ("A atitude de Sua Excelência não ser o seguinte...") appears to be either a transcription error or an intentional emphasis in the original document, suggesting uncertainty or contradiction in the reporting. This has been preserved in structure while clarifying the meaning.
- The signature "[J. M. e L. S.]" remains unexpanded, as it likely refers to a consular official (possibly José Maria e Lima Santos, common in Portuguese diplomatic records of the period), but without further context, it is retained in its original form.
This translation adheres to British English conventions, maintains academic tone, preserves historical terminology where appropriate, and ensures accuracy suitable for scholarly citation.
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On this occasion, I wish to inform Your Excellency that "in the communication concerning the Sertão region (the year), addressed to His Majesty's Government, I shall be pleased to lend assistance, should it be deemed agreeable to the inhabitants; in the Sertão Colony, the supply of provisions is difficult due to the prohibitive measures imposed by the Superior Authority of the Two Margins." I am able to manage with minimal resources and have achieved satisfactory results. This matter has already been brought to Your Excellency’s attention by His Excellency the Minister of the Navy.
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God preserve Your Excellency, the Illustrious Sir, Minister of Foreign Affairs.