THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 2C3 



The northern islands lie in^ the track of the typhoons, which 

 develop in the Pacific and sweep over the China sea from north- 

 east to southwest during the southwest monsoon. They are 

 liable to occur at any time between May and November, but it is 

 in the months of July, August, and September that they are 

 most frequent. In the early part of the season it is the northern 

 part of the region subject to these storms that feels their greatest 

 force. As the season advances they gradually work southward , 

 so that the most dangerous time in Manila is about the end of 

 October and beginning of November. They never pass further 

 south than about 9° north latitude; consequently all the terri- 

 tory south of that line is exempt from their ravages. Sometimes 

 the typhoon is of large diameter and travels slowly, so far as pro- 

 gressive motion is concerned; at others it is of smaller dimen- 

 sions, and both the circular and progressive motions are more 

 rapid; but they are always storms of terrific energy, frequently 

 causing terrible devastation and destruction of crops and prop- 

 erty on shore and of shipping on the sea. 



Thunder-storms, often of astonishing violence, are of frequent 

 occurrence in May and June, before the setting in of the south- 

 west monsoon and commencement of the rainy season. During 

 July, August, September, and October the rains are very heavy ; 

 the rivers and lakes are swollen and frequently overflow, flood- 

 ing large tracts of the lower-lying country. The average rain- 

 fall in the neighborhood of Manila is stated to be from 75 to 120 

 inches per annum, and there the difference between the longest 

 and shortest day of the year is only 1 hour 47 minutes and 12 

 seconds. 



For a tropical climate, that of the islands may be considered 

 healthful for people of the white race, and even for natives of north- 

 ern regions visiting for the first time a tropical country if they 

 pay ordinaiy attention to hygienic laws, particularly to cleanli- 

 ness, and temperance in eating and drinking. In the majority 

 of cases when foreigners suffer from change of climate in this or 

 most other tropical countries the cause can be traced to their 

 own imprudence and careless habits of life. The immoderate 

 use of fruits, although novel and delicious, particularly after a 

 long sea voyage, should be avoided, as they tend to disarrange 

 the gastro-intestinal functions and produce dysenteric and diar- 

 rheal diseases, which are those most to be feared by newly ar- 

 rived strangers. Alcoholic liquors, if used at all, should be 

 taken with extreme moderation. Animal foods and fats, which 



