MACAU: TRIUMPH AND TRIBULATION by Stuart Braga Written at the request of Ed Rozario, President of the Casa de Macau Australia, this series of six essays outlines several aspects of the turbulent history of Macau over a period of four centuries. They were first published in ‘Casa Down Under’ the newsletter of the Casa de […]
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The great days of Macau 1557-1640 by Stuart Braga First published in the Casa de Macau (Australia) Bulletin The first Portuguese attempts to trade with China in the early 16th century ended in disaster when an embassy was despatched to the Imperial Court at Peking, led by Tomé Pires whose book Suma Oriental was an important reference
Guia – fortress, chapel and lighthouse by Stuart Braga Macau in 1835. This picture appeared in Anders Ljungstedt’s book. The three hills are Guia on the right, Monte Fort in the centre and Penha on the left. More than 300 years ago as mariners approached Macau the first glimpse they had of this tiny European
Surrender, or we’ll flatten Macau by Stuart Braga Article originally published in Casa de Macau Australia Bulletin of 10 July 2009 A little over two centuries ago, little Macau, remote and isolated from world affairs, narrowly escaped being caught up in the worldwide struggle between Britain and France under Napoleon. Fearing that the French might
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The Border Gate, or Portas do Cerco by Dr Stuart BragaOriginally published in the Casa de Macau Australia News Vol 28 Issue 3, July 2014Click on an image to see it in full size. The boundary between Macau and what is commonly called the Mainland is now defined by tall buildings and a well-organised border post, some 3
The Governor from Hell Dom Sebastião Lobo da Silveira, Governor of Macau, 1638-1644 by Stuart Braga Edited version of an article first published in the Australian Casa de Macau Newsletter If you thought our political leaders leave something to desired, then think again. Quite apart from the appalling dictators of 20th-century Europe and the cruel tyrants of
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By the Skin of its Teeth by Stuart Braga Article originally published in Casa de Macau Bulletin The Portuguese authorities in Macau between September and December 1808 faced the most serious challenge to Portuguese rule since the Dutch attack in 1622. This time, a powerful British force landed and remained for three months, though, curiously,
CHAPTER XII Portuguese Interest in Land Development in Hongkong – Genesis of Kowloon – Some Interesting Personalities among the Portuguese of Old Hongkong Speaking generally, the Portuguese of Hongkong may be said to be the descendants of two elements of the people of Macao who emigrated to the British colony – the commercial element and
CHAPTER XI Early relations between Macao and Hongkong – Last Days of Portuguese Shipping in the East. In earlier chapters we have seen how cordial were the relations between the Portuguese and the British at Macao during the opening decades of the last century. This was specially in evidence shortly before the outbreak of the
CHAPTER X Catholic Churches and Schools in Hongkong Among the forces which influence the lives of men one of the strongest is that of religion. Let me therefore devote a chapter to the religious activities of my compatriots in Hongkong, where complete toleration of creeds and customs has been such a marked feature of British
