98 A. EH. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 510 
20.—Harthquakes. 
Very few instances of earthquake shocks are on record as noticed 
in Bermuda, and those few that have been recorded were slight and 
did no damage. One occurred June 25, 1664 (old style). 
The following is from the Records of the Port Royal Parish : 
“upon the 25th day of June Anno 1664 being the Sabbath day, at 
9 of the Clock of the forenoon, there was a great and fearfull Earth- 
quake which did shake churches and Houses, yea and the hearts of 
men too.” 
Another is recorded Feb. 19, 1801. 
In February, 1843, there was also a light shock of an earthquake, 
doing no damage. 
21.—Health and Diseases; Longevity; Historical Epidemics ; 
Mosquitoes. 
-Aside from the several former invasions of foreign contagious dis- 
eases and the local epidemics of typhoid fever, the Bermudas have 
always been unusually healthful, and the native people have been 
noted for their longevity. The alleged longevity of some of the 
inhabitants was made a special subject of inquiry by the Royal Soci- 
ety of London, in the questions addressed to Richard Norwood, in 
1664. Perhaps the natural stamina of many of the earliest families 
who settled there has had much to do with the longevity. 
Mr. Richard Stafford, in replying to some of these questions, wrote 
as follows : 
“As to the Age of our Inhabitants here, some do live to an 
hundred years and upwards; many live till they are nigh a hundred, 
but few above: And when they dye, ’tis age and weakness, that is 
the cause, and not any disease that attends them. The general dis- 
temper that is yearly amongst us, is a Cold ; and that is most gotten 
in the hottest weather. The Air here is very sweet and pleasant. 
Our Diet is but ordinary, and the People generally poor, and I 
observe, that poor People are most healthful.” (Trans. Royal Soc., 
ui, p. 792, Oct., 1668.) 
That the climate was very healthful for the English settlers, was 
recognized from the earliest times. Thus the Rev. Mr. Hughes, 
writing in 1615, says: 
“Young children doe thrive and grow up exceeding well: the 
climate is so temperate and agreeable to our English constitutions.” 
He also mentioned, in 1621, that not one of the original 60 colo- 
nists, who went there in 1612, had died of disease, though one had 
been accidentally killed by the bursting of a cannon. Yet there had 
