38 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 



from its having caused the collapse of the cathedral of 

 Manila when packed with people, and a fearful loss of life 

 in consequence. On the 18th July, 1880, a sudden 

 shock reduced half the city to ruins, but not more 

 than 150 persons were killed. The shocks were re- 

 peated on tlie 20 th, and thenceforward daily and con- 

 stantly until the 6th August, and to complete the 

 misfortunes of the country, torrents of rain fell almost 

 without intermission from July 21st to the 18tli August, 

 and inundated the country. According to the observa- 

 tions of Pere Faura, the head of the Manila Observatory, 

 the first shock of this earthquake lasted 70 seconds. The 

 oscillations were excessive, the greatest measured being 

 22° 11' to the east and 11° to the west. 



Notwithstanding the natural scourges to which the 

 Philippine Islands are thus exposed, they cannot justly 

 be said to be unhealthy. Formerly the natives died in 

 hundreds from smallpox, but this disease has been much 

 mitigated of late since the Spanish Government has 

 established a training post for the instruction of native 

 vaccinators, who are afterwards despatched to every part 

 of the islands. Asiatic cholera, however, claims number- 

 less victims. The most important diseases are dysentery, 

 ulcers, — probably of parasitic origin, — and malarial fevers, 

 but the latter are not of a severe type. Contrary to 

 what is usual in tropical climates, frequent instances of 

 extreme longevity have been recorded among the native 

 inhabitants. 



5. Fauna and Flora. 



The flora of the Philippines is not even yet thoroughly 

 known, the difficulties till recently thrown by the 

 Government in the way of scientific investigation, to- 



