94 



COGCTX BROWN: THE BURMA EARTHQUAKES OF MAY 1012. 



towns, with the exception of those of a religious character, — the 

 Buddhist pagodas of varying ages and styles. 



In towns like Maymyo buildings are composed of : — 



Brick nogging. 

 Brick in lime mortar. 

 Brick in mud mortar. 

 Sun-dried brick in mud. 

 Bamboo mat and thatch. 



On the whole, it seems best to characterise the damage here 

 as moderate, with the proviso, gained from a careful study of the 

 results of the shock, that the damage would undoubtedly have 

 been very much greater if more houses had been built of stone 

 and brickwork in lime of the ordinary type. 



Practically every pagoda which 1 saw had crumbled or been 

 shaken down for the grealer part of its height. 



Every fair-sized brick building in Maymyo suffered more or 



less damage. Good examples of solid brick and 

 Damage to bniWingB mas(mrv structures existed in the kitcluuis of 



the British Infantry barracks ; many of these 

 were very badly cracked and shattered, and most were injured to 

 some extent, affording an illustration of the probable result if the 

 station as a whole had been built after the same fashion. The 

 garage of Government House which was also a strongly built 

 brick building was completely shattered. Brick nogging buildings 

 fared much better. Lower panels sometimes cracked and high 

 "able panels rocked out of their frames, causing considerable 

 damage as they fell. Blaster from walls and ceilings was shaken 

 off, and bricks, especially along the tops of walls, were often 

 loosened. Complete destruction was conspicuous by its absence, 

 and this I believe is to be put down to the elasticity of the 

 wooden frames of the brick nogged bungalows. 



The brick chimneys which are a feature of the bungalows in 

 Maymyo suffered greatly. In most cases they fell or were so 

 badly cracked that dismantling was imperative. Considerable 

 damage was caused to roofs and ceilings by falling chimneys. 

 As was only to be expected from its lack of cohesion and 

 strength, work composed of brick in mud mortar, and sun-dried 

 brick in mud was badly shattered and cracked by the shock. 



