Memories of World War II By Henry d’Assumpção It was a great feast-day, celebrating the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. For me, then seven years old in Hong Kong, it was a holiday from school, for my older brother a half-holiday. So breakfast was leisurely that morning when our father announced solemnly: “War can […]
THE MIRACULOUS CROSS by Bernardino de Senna Fernandes (Riri) d’Assumpção Edited extract from an unpublished book of anecdotes One of the old stories passed down from generation to generation in Macau was about a miraculous and mysterious cross; I have tried hard but failed to find any written references about it. The legend is that
THE FUNERAL ST PAUL’S by Bernardino de Senna Fernandes (Riri) d’Assumpção Edited extract from an unpublished book of anecdotes The ruins of St Paul’s church in Macau are great tourist attraction today. It is not generally known that the church had been built mainly by Japanese Catholic refugees fleeing persecution in Japan and that 25
THE CORPSE AT CACILHAS BEACH by Bernardino de Senna Fernandes (Riri) d’Assumpção Edited extract from an unpublished book of anecdotes Cacilhas Beach and Praia Grande Beach – where my father’s and my maternal grandmother’s houses were situated – are no longer in existence today, obliterated by land reclaimed from the sea. Originally, however, these beaches
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THE FLOORWALKER by Bernardino de Senna Fernandes (Riri) d’Assumpção Edited extract from an unpublished book of anecdotes China has some ancient customs which may appear odd to foreigners, but which they should respect. One unusual custom is to place an upside-down broom at the entrance of your house to put off an unwanted guest: its
THE SEALED SKELETONS by Bernardino de Senna Fernandes (Riri) d’Assumpção Edited extract from an unpublished book of anecdotes Some fifty years ago my grandmother decided to develop a large property in Macau, which her late husband had acquired many years before, part of a former huge estate stretching from the Leal Senado almost to the
TOOT-TOOT by Bernardino de Senna Fernandes (Riri) d’Assumpção Edited extract from an unpublished book of anecdotes (I hesitated to include it in this website, in fear that it might cause offence to people who suffer from stuttering, but decided to go ahead because the article does not ridicule but rather sympathises with them. – HA
THE BURIAL AT SEA by Bernardino de Senna Fernandes (Riri) d’Assumpção Edited extract from an unpublished book of anecdotes According to my grandfather, his first trip to the Far East was quite uneventful until the warship reached the Indian Ocean. It was then that, probably because of the heat, a member of the crew suffered
THE SHROUD by Bernardino de Senna Fernandes d’Assumpção Edited extract from an unpublished book of anecdotes The following is a well-known tale, probably told for generations among the Portuguese in Macau and Hongkong. In the olden days a doctor’s certificate of death could not be completely relied upon; to ensure that no one was buried
Articles on History This section of the library provides a selection of articles. Names of authors are listed alphabetically in the Portuguese manner (e.g., da Silva appears under “S” for Silva) Bernardino de Senna Fernandes “Riri” d’Assumpção The Shroud – A ghost story recounted to generations of Macanese. The Burial at Sea – A cautionary
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