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 the 20 th, and thenceforward daily and con¬ 
stantly until the 6 th August, and to complete the 
misfortunes of the country, torrents of rain fell almost 
without intermission from July 21st to the 18th 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 7 0 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- 
