Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms, Volume 38

The Atlantic — The Kingdom of Portugal original: 布路亞國 (Buluya Guo). While this name was sometimes used for Prussia in later texts, here Wei Yuan uses it within the context of the Portuguese presence in Macau; historical naming of European nations was often fluid in 19th-century Chinese scholarship.

丰

Of the six major fortifications, the first is called the St. Paul’s Fortress original: 三巴礮臺 (Sanba Paotai), referring to the Fortaleza do Monte located near the Ruins of St. Paul's. It is equipped with twenty-eight cannons. Foreign soldiers are stationed on top. Around the fortress walls are small alcoves original: 甄龕 (zhenkan) built to house the night watchmen. Below the fort are living quarters and storage rooms for gunpowder and saltpeter.

Next are the East and West Wangyang Fortresses original: 東西望洋 (Dong Xi Wangyang). "Wangyang" means "Gazing at the Ocean." These refer to the Guia Fortress (East) and the Penha Hill Fortress (West). These two forts face each other. The eastern one holds seven cannons, and the western one five. The rest of their design and regulations follow those of the St. Paul’s Fortress.

The A-Ma Cape Fortress original: 娘媽角 (Niangma Jiao), now known as the Barra Fortress near the A-Ma Temple is located below the West Wangyang Hill. It possesses twenty-six cannons. The Nam Van Fortress original: 南環 (Nanhuan) holds three cannons. The Castello Fortress original: 噶斯蘭 (Gasilan), referring to the Fortaleza de São Francisco holds seven cannons, with a gunpowder bureau established on its left side.

Altogether, the count of cannons is seventy-six. Sixty-one are of the larger size, while the rest are slightly smaller. Forty-six are cast in bronze, and the rest are iron. The large bronze ones weigh more than 3,000 jin a Chinese unit of weight; 3,000 jin is approximately 1,800 kg or 2 tons. Their circumference and length are about two zhang a unit of length; 2 zhang is roughly 6.6 meters or 21 feet, and they can hold several shi a unit of dry volume of gunpowder.

During the Ming Dynasty, the Dutch original: 紅毛 (Hongmao), literally "Red Hairs," the common historical Chinese term for the Dutch excelled in the use of these firearms. They often cast a covetous eye on Macau original: 香山澳 (Xiangshan Ao), attempting to seize commercial profits through intimidation and force. The residents of Macau the Portuguese then imitated these weapons. Their craftsmanship became even more refined than that of the Dutch. When firing, they use sighting rulers to measure and telescopes to gauge distance; they never fail to hit their targets with uncanny precision. The Dutch...