Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-04-16
cEnsssr, tN.H March IS.
SKETCH OF THE ISLAND OF
xFtNNDCA

ter. :.
..We arrived here on the eve OIL
December Goth, having been month
| AZ sea; which is longer than we were
Ierossins the Atlantic. Mahon is the
principal place in the island Of MI
norca. The harbor is perhaps the
hest in the world. The town con-
tains about $1,000 inhabitants, and Is
the neatest ever saw The Minor
cans are a distinct race OF people,
land speak dialect Of their own. i
am delighted with their personal aP-
oearanee and their character. lhey
have light. W oIesome complexion
and bear more resemblance to Ame-
rieans. than TO Italians and Spanlards.
The women and children are beautl-
ful, land every thing about their houses
| or dress is neat in the extreme. This
lis true even Of the poorest. who are
accustomed 10 vhitewash their
houses inside and out once week.
and uld rather 90 without food
than emit any thing necessary to
CLEANLINESS. The woman all wear
sort Of vandykc or half handkerchief
passing over the head and pinned un-
der the chm. This rs Of white mus
lin or red cloth, according to the
weather and circumstances OF the
persons. This dress gives them a
singular appearance. but it is quite
becoming. But what strikes one
most foreibly, is the simplicity anu
innocence Of their manners. and their
frankness and hospitality towards
strangers.
"rhe other day I walked into the
country several miles. II was the
middle Of winter; ! thought offriends
az home: how you were all crowdirg
around the fire. and scarcely able 20
move out of door, on account of the
snow. But how different with me;
the sun shonc bright, the air was
mild as Nay The hills were dressed
in verdare, the dark green of the
sliye being beastifully eoutrasted
with the lighter color of the grassy
carpet beneath The meadows we're
lensmelled with flowers Of different
hues; white honey suckles, and creep
ers OF various sorts, ran blooming
along the wall. which separated new
lly planted fields. The birds made
music among the branches. and the
very Miud mills, (of which counted
SO in sight seemed as ifthey we're
animated by the beauty of the scene.
We came TO a farmhouse and were
limited TO enter. Delicious bread
and milk, and usages aud wine Of the
Island. were set before us in abun
dance; in the g.rden We plucked or.
lsuges from the trees like apples,and
Ibid not spare the grapes which had
lbeen left from the vintage. We were
delighted with our hostess and her
lIchildreu. who. with a certain sweet
] simplicity, and without ceremony.
Smade US " clcome. entertained US with
4 what they had. and dismissed US With
every demonstration Of good will. ]
n met this day what | had read Of
sin romanres, but never found in
real life before; rustics without
: Glow nishuess, and people ignoran,
: lwitbout being gross In general
Dlthese people seem virtuous audhappy.
$ 1.-The only anuleasant thing which
G one sees, is the Spanish soldiers; they
: are convie,s, and you may read crime
D lin their couBtenance."
= From; the National IntelEg neer.
c INTERESTING NARRATIVE.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM HIwAIsE.
I "With regard to the rifles present
E ed by the President of the United
/ States. as q reward for the extraor
s binary enterprise Of three young
: Cherokee Wdrriors, ! must give you
5 q short history.
a "The Greeks were fortified on Q
e point Of land formed by bend Of
MI The Tallapoosa river, at place
. which, from its shape, obtained the
: name of Horse Shoe. The river was
Ideemed O suffirient security. on &C.