The season when Ty-foongs generally prevail in these latitudes,—and it is only within a few degrees upon these coasts that they rage,—is between July and October, inclusive of those months. They form a serious impediment to the navigation of the China Sea, almost amounting to its obstruction at this period; for the inducement must be great to encounter such a risk. H. B. M. ship Hastings experienced a severe one late in October, and the new American clipper ship "Witchcraft," came into Victoria harbor on the third of December, 1851, having encountered a strong Tyfoong in 142° east, which carried away all her topmasts, and jib-boom, narrowly escaping going down. Both these vessels were caught unexpectedly, neither expecting to find Ty-foongs in the latitudes in which they were at that season of the year.
CHAPTER XX.
Ty-foong passed—Pleasant Season—Theatrical Exhibition—The Macàense—Philharmonic Society—Italian Opera—Awaiting Orders for Home—Thoughts of Home and Friends—Idea suggested by the Setting Sun—Poetry—Maladie de Pays—Its effects upon the Swiss—A Remedy—My own Experience—And manner of Cure.
The symptoms of the Ty-foong having passed over, and all fears of its recurrence at an end, time went pleasantly by at Macào. The temperature was most delightful, this season being certainly the most agreeable in this part of China, a number of foreign residents from Canton and Hong-Kong adding to its gayety.
The Portuguese officers, aided by the citizens, got up for our amusement a theatrical exhibition, at the old rooms formerly occupied by the Philharmonic Society. The representations were very good, and the accommodations for the audience excellent. Saw the elité of Macào at these performances, and must say the Macàense are not without a goodly share of female beauty, although it is not apparent upon all occasions, for the decline of the place has affected the finances of the families, and their pride will not allow them to exhibit their poverty upon common occasions, not that there was any evidence of it here, for the ladies were all richly as well as tastily dressed.
It is perhaps not generally known that opera once flourished in Macào. An Italian company, who had carried their "sweet voices" around the world, once made these walls vocal with the music of Donnizetti, Bellini, and others of their great maestros, and "Lucia di Lammermoor" lamented her lost love, and the amiable Amina sobbed forth her somnambulic sorrows for her false lover, upon these very boards.
The performance given upon this occasion was not in opera, but dramatic, something about the troubles of a Jew—not le Juif Errant—although this member of his tribe was off and on sufficiently to have given him a claim to this title.
An interval, filled up by promenading to some pretty good music, was succeeded by a funny farce, which sent the audience laughing to their beds.