THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 37 



yearly cause incalculable damage in the islands over 

 which they pass on their way to China. Within the last 

 few years the establishment of the telegraph in Luzon 

 has mitigated the loss of life and property resulting from 

 them. Stations at the extremities and east coast of the 

 island warn the Jesuits' Observatory at Manila of the 

 approaching storm, and notice is immediately telegraphed 

 to Hongkong. But in spite of these warnings the de- 

 struction wrought is terrible. In 1831, during one of 

 these storms, a vessel of 600 tons burden, which lay in 

 the port of Cavite, was carried on to the ramparts of the 

 fort. In 1856 a terrific typhoon is said to have de- 

 stroyed 10,000 houses in Manila and the surrounding 

 district. That of 1882, although causing less destruction 

 of life, was almost as violent, the barometer falling to 

 28'66, and the velocity of the wind rising to 145 miles 

 per hour. Earthquakes are far more frequent, and have 

 wrought even greater havoc than the typhoons. The 

 seismographs of the Manila Observatory reveal an almost 

 constant vibration of the earth. Slight shocks are of the 

 commonest occurrence. Warned by repeated disaster the 

 Manilan now builds his house with a view to guard 

 against accidents. The ground floor alone is stone, the 

 upper story is of wood, and the heavy tiles which once 

 formed the roofs are now abolished by law. In the rooms 

 most frequented it is not unusual to see a sort of " man- 

 hole " which acts as a shelter in emergencies, and the tables 

 are made of great solidity for the same purpose. The 

 careful householder screws down the clocks and other 

 ornaments, and holds himself in readiness to dive beneath 

 the table at a moment's notice. 



The most disastrous earthquakes of the present cen- 

 tury occurred in 1827, 1828, 1863, 1874, and 1880, 

 and of these that of 1863 will be longest remembered 



