The reader who is not familiar with this country may find it strange that in reporting earthquake damages so much emphasis appears to be laid on the harm done to churches and _conventos_. This is easily explained by the fact that these buildings were often the only structures within the meizoseismal area, and built nearly everywhere in the most substantial manner. In the present catalogue we have also included, by way of an appendix, the earthquakes which are known to have occurred in the Marianas or Ladrones group of islands. While their number is too small to warrant separate publication, we believe that the data concerning them will be welcome to the earthquake investigator. CATALOGUE OF VIOLENT AND DESTRUCTIVE EARTHQUAKES IN THE PHILIPPINES. ----+--------------------+-----+------------------------------------------ No. | Date. |Intensity. | | | Epicenter and effects. ----+--------------------+-----+------------------------------------------ | _Y. M. d. h. m._ | | 1 |1599 VI 25 3 20 | IX |Manila and neighboring provinces. Damaged | | |many private buildings in Manila; cracked | | |the vault of the Jesuit Church so badly | | |that it had to be demolished and replaced | | |by a ceiling; fissured the walls and | | |ruined the roof of Santo Domingo Church. | | | 2 |1600 I 2 0 0 |VIII |Earthquake of destructive force and long | | |duration in Manila; extent of damage | | |unknown. | | | 3 |1600 XI -- -- -- | VI |Violent and protracted earthquake. | | | 4 |1601 I 16 0 -- |VIII |Manila and adjacent provinces. Did | | |considerable damage to some churches and | | |many private houses in Manila. Its | | |duration was unusually great, it being | | |said that during 7 minutes the shocks were | | |almost continuous. There were several dead | | |and a great number of injured. The | | |repetitions were frequent throughout the | | |year. | | | 5 |1608 XII 3 -- -- | VI-|Leyte Island. Violent chiefly in the | | VII |country around Dulag and Palo (E coast of | | |northern Leyte). It does not appear to | | |have been destructive. | | | 6 |1610 XI -- -- -- | IX |Manila and provinces east of it. Several | | |writers call it a "terrible earthquake | | |which progressed from E to W."