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 
