ndertaking had hitherto subjected us.

SECTION XXIX.

_Proceedings at Macao._

The city of Macao, in the road of which we came to an anchor on the
12th of November, is a Portuguese settlement, situated in an island
at the mouth of the river of Canton. It was formerly a very rich and
populous city, and capable of defending itself against the power of
the adjacent Chinese governors: But at present it is much fallen from
its ancient splendour, for though it is inhabited by Portuguese, and
has a governor nominated by the king of Portugal, yet it subsists
merely by the sufferance of the Chinese, who can starve the place,
and dispossess the Portuguese whenever they please: This obliges the
governor of Macao to behave with great circumspection, and carefully
to avoid every circumstance that may give offence to the Chinese.[7]
The river of Canton, at the mouth of which this city lies, is the only
Chinese port, frequented by European ships; and this river is indeed
a more commodious harbour, on many accounts, than Macao: But the
peculiar customs of the Chinese, only adapted to the entertainment of
trading ships, and the apprehensions of the commodore, lest he should
embroil the East-India company with the regency of Canton, if he
should insist on being treated upon a different footing than the
merchantmen, made him resolve to go first to Macao, before he ventured
into the port of Canton. Indeed, had not this reason prevailed with
him, he himself had nothing to fear: For it is certain that he might
have entered the port of Canton, and might have continued there as
long as he pleased, and afterwards have left it again, although the
whole power of the Chinese empire had been brought together to oppose
him.

[Footnote 7: This circumspection has never availed much. The
Portuguese obtained this port and the adjoining territory of about 8
miles in circuit, as a reward for assistance given in extirpating a
pirate who took refuge here. But the ingratitude of the Chinese always
grudged, and often violated, the immunities thus won from their fears.
The city, built after the European model, and originally possessed of
both military strength and commercial consequence, has, through the
carelessness of the Portuguese, and the exactions and insolence of
their neighbours, dwindled into comparative insignificance. According
to Sir George Staunton's account, the population does not now exceed
12000, and more than half is Chinese. In shor