Geography and Culture of Portugal

The Tagus River original: 辣日哥 (Làrìgē); likely referring to the Tagus or the Lisbon region and the prominent European city of Coimbra original: 高士多 (Gāoshìduō) are located here. Among their people was a member of the Society of Jesus Jesuit Society: a Catholic religious order known for its scholars and missionaries who often served in the Chinese imperial court named Sousa original: 蘇氏 (Sū shì); likely referring to the historian Manuel de Faria e Sousa who wrote the Geography of Portugal original: 陟祿日亞書 (Zhìlùrìyà Shū); a transliteration of "Lusitania," the ancient name for Portugal, which is exceptionally precise.

Their local products include fruits, silk, and cotton. They have an abundance of aquatic life and are highly skilled at brewing grape wine, which remains unspoiled even after the long sea voyage to China. Their estates and gardens can span dozens of li a Chinese mile, approximately 500 meters in circumference, teeming with birds and beasts; famous kings from foreign lands often travel to these grounds to engage in hunting.

Social Customs and Charity

It is their custom to maintain Benevolent Societies original: 仁會 (Rénhuì); referring to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia, a Portuguese charity foundation to provide relief for orphans, widows, and the destitute. When merchant ships arrive, if a traveler dies without an heir, the society collects their luggage, tracks down their relatives, and returns the belongings to them. The King dispatches officials to every district to manage the estates of orphaned children; once the children reach adulthood, the officials return all the property to them, often with added value.

Diplomatic History with the Qing Court

Prior to the Ming Dynasty, there was no formal communication with China. In the 5th year of the Yongzheng reign 1727, they presented a memorial and local products as tribute. In the 18th year of the Qianlong reign 1753, they sent a tribute mission again.

The Emperor ordered the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, Liu Songling original: 劉松齡; the Chinese name of the Jesuit missionary Ferdinand Augustin Hallerstein, to lead the delegation on their journey to the capital Beijing.
They were granted an imperial audience and bestowed a banquet.

Previously, during the tribute mission of the 5th year of Yongzheng, in addition to the standard rewards:
The King was specially bestowed four catties of ginseng.