THE MINORCANS IN A BRITISH DOMINION

Little has been said of the character of Britain's Minorcan subjects in the new dominion. Both Armstrong and Cleghorn agree that Minorcans seemed indolent and unambitious. They paid their taxes in support of the garrison uncomplainingly, with the fatalism of a subject people and shelved responsibility for their welfare on the ruling power. Only a few hankered after better things. Both writers also mention a trait that no longer exists: a tendency to quarrel and be suspicious of each other. Nothing could be further from the facts today. Cleghorn's detailed account of the character of Minorcans in 1751 is worth placing on record:

The Natives of this Island are commonly thin, lean, and well built, strong and active, of a middle stature and an olive Complexion. Their hair for the most part is black and curled; in many Chestnut coloured; in some Red. In a word, the young People are either of a sanguine or cholerick Constitution; while those of more advanced Years, become dry, meagre, and what the Ancients called strabilious . . . They don't commonly live to so great an age as the Inhabitants of more northerly Countries. . . Girls soon arrive at maturity, and soon grow old. . . Both sexes are by constitution extremely amorous. They are often betrothed to each other, while children, and marry at Fourteen.

Minorcans normally lived frugally, wheat bread being more than half their diet, and ate little meat. Fish, rice, eggs and root vegetables were also eaten, to which they added summer fruits. With their food they always drank wine. But at fiestas and weddings food was lavish, and at a country farmer's wedding which Cleghorn attended the amount eaten 'could scarcely be credited' .
There was another side to the life of this supposedly listless people. A full quarter of the year was devoted to holidays and fiestas, in which the religious ceremonies took a very minor role. Between 'harvest and vintage' there was a succession of outdoor processions and dancing, masques, horse and foot racing, and 'all manner of sports' accompanied by castanets, pipes, violins and guitars. Oranges were thrown at lovers as in ancient Greek times, and extempore songs were sung by rival guitarists in competition with each other.
 

Dress and fashion
Minorcan everyday dress was striking and unusual. Men wore a loose short coat or jacket, a waistcoat, and red worsted girdle or wide leather belt, and beneath these a coarse shirt with coloured neckerchief, a red worsted cap, long breeches to the ankles, and broad flat shoes of white leather. Those of higher rank wore a wig, cocked hat and sword. If in mourning the latter tied a black cloth over the scabbard of his sword.
Women's everyday dress consisted of a black, close-fitting sleeved waistcoat, wide and open at the neck but closely fastened at the wrists. A coloured skirt or petticoat, full at the hips, came up over it, and was tied at the waist. This struck a gayer and quite modern note, for it only reached to mid-calf. They wore coloured woollen stockings of red, blue or green,  white shoes with high heels, and square perforated toes; also a peasant-style headshawl, which was coyly pinned under the chin.
On formal occasions at which British and Minorcans met, a black veil fastened at the waist was brought up over the head, but not obscuring the face. The hair was gathered behind, and either plaited or tied with a coloured ribbon. It was very long and often ended in a little curl.
When greeted on a social occasion by a British officer, a woman would acknowledge it with a gentle bowing of the head. One did not touch a Minorcan lady's hand, even formally in salutation. If this seemed likely to happen, the lady's usual reply was: 'Mira y no tocas' - 'Look, and do not touch.'

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