Illustrated Gazetteer of the Maritime Kingdoms, Volume 38

The Great Western Ocean: The Kingdom of Portugal

Page Six

The territory is divided into seven regions, much like the seven prefectures original: 七府 (qī fǔ); a comparison to the administrative divisions of China to help the reader visualize the scale of the country of China. Entering the harbor from the Jiaoya Fortress original: 交牙 (Jiāoyá); likely referring to the Fortress of São Julião da Barra at the mouth of the Tagus River, one travels several dozen li to reach Lisbon original: 里斯波亞 (Lǐsībōyà). This is a major city where the King has established his capital. It possesses defensive fortresses but lacks traditional city walls.

Proceeding further from there, one reaches Coimbra original: 金巴喇 (Jīnbālǎ), which is also a major city. Many of those who have come to the Middle Kingdom China to serve in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau original: 欽天監 (Qīntiānjiān); the government office responsible for the calendar and celestial observations or who have gone to Macau to serve as High Priests original: 大和尚 (dà héshàng); literally "Great Monks," a term used by Chinese writers to describe high-ranking Catholic clergy like bishops are natives of this region.

Traveling further inland, one finds Porto original: 窩達 (Wōdá); likely referring to Oporto and then Viseu original: 維丟 (Wéidiū). The remaining major cities include Lamego original: 來魯 (Láilǔ), Alcobaça original: 阿喇加 (Ālájiā), and Chaves original: 渣比 (Zhābǐ). All of these are grand urban centers where the population is dense and ships and carriages gather like the spokes of a wheel a Chinese idiom for a bustling transport hub. Each of these locations is guarded by a heavy garrison of troops.

The natives original: 土番 (tǔfān); a period term for foreigners, though here used descriptively are fair-skinned and prioritize cleanliness. They live in multi-story buildings and their tools and utensils are exquisitely crafted. They favor the color white; all walls and houses are decorated with white lime plaster. When the plaster becomes even slightly old, they immediately recoat it. Among women, those with the fairest skin are considered the most noble.

Their titles are as follows:

• The King is called Rei original: 理 (Lǐ).
• The Heir Apparent is called Infante original: 黎番參 (Lífānshēn).
• A Prince is called Príncipe original: 必林西比 (Bìlínxībǐ).
• A Princess is called Princesa original: 必林梭 (Bìlínsuō).
• The Prime Minister is called Chanceler original: 干參 (Gānshān); likely referring to the Chancellor or a high Counselor.
• The General is called Marechal original: 馬 (Mǎ); likely referring to a Marshal.