The revolt was prompted by a duty imposed on the faitiões ("fast boats [junks]", from Chinese fai teang) by the new governor.
João Maria Ferreira do Amaral had been appointed governor of Macau on 21 April 1846 in the aftermath of the First Opium War, when the Portuguese wanted to assert their rights against a weak and defeated China and resist British power.
[1] The new regulations, suggested by the procurator, Manuel Pereira, required all Chinese faitiões to be registered and to pay a fee of one pataca a month.
They marched up the road to the church of Santo António, where they confronted and fired upon a group of sepoys (native soldiers in Portuguese pay).
On 10 October two mandarins arrived before Macau to compliment the governor on restoring order and assure him of Chinese friendship.