catalogue contains also several earthquakes whose intensities were
between VI and VII, while in the former only such figure as according
to their effects were decidedly of force VII. (2) The new catalogue is
more complete as to details concerning the towns, etc., which have
been destroyed.

It is to be regretted that we are unable to present here a complete
historical catalogue of all the destruction wrought in the Archipelago
by earthquakes since the time when Legaspi and Urdaneta first set foot
on these shores. But the old chroniclers, who dwell upon the political
happenings with an attention to detail which is occasionally overdone,
were invariably laconic when there was question of earthquakes and
similar natural phenomena; as a rule they were satisfied with
mentioning the occurrence in a general and therefore vague way,
without any attempt at precision as to dates and places. Still the
writers in the Philippines did nothing worse than imitate their
colleagues throughout the rest of the world. This fact is responsible
for the great contrast exhibited by our catalogue as regards the
number and details of earthquakes which occurred prior to 1800,
records of which have been preserved, and the same data for the period
from 1800 to the present time. This same difference is observable in
all catalogues of a similar nature, even in those which cover
phenomena which occurred in Europe. As to the Philippine writers, an
additional excuse is found in the peculiar conditions of life in these
Islands. As far as we know, only two earthquakes which took place
during the period which alone can come under consideration--that is,
since the discovery of the Archipelago--have claimed a considerable
number of victims, and these in the capital, because outside of
Manila--if we except two or three of the principal cities--the
buildings which could become dangerous during an earthquake have