THE STRENGTH OF NATURE
Francisco lived in a country where Mother Nature is very kind
to her children, and yet treats them with great severity. He was
close enough to the equator to enjoy tropical sunshine the year
round, with no cold weather and but a few months of long-continued
rains. The soil of the Philippines is so fertile that crops grow with
little cultivation. Food, drink, clothing, and shelter are obtained
readily, and so people's wants are easily satisfied. But, as if to
counterbalance this generosity, Nature is exceedingly harsh with the
Filipinos, and those who live in these islands must remain in almost
constant danger of inconvenience, loss of property, or even death at
her hands.
At various times during the year, especially in the month of September,
a traveler in the Philippine Islands will notice many of the houses
braced with long poles which reach from the four upper corners out
to the ground some distance from the house. This is to safeguard
the house against being blown down by a baguio (bä'-gï-o). Baguios
are terrific cyclones which sweep in from the China Sea or the
Pacific Ocean, and rage over the islands for hours and even days,
leaving death and destruction in their track. Houses are demolished,
crops ruined, trees felled, and boats washed up on shore or dashed
to pieces on some of the treacherous coral reefs that fringe the
shores of most of the islands. All vessels that have time either
hasten to some sheltered port or put out into the open sea until
the wind abates. The weather bureau at Manila sends out telegraphic
reports whenever a typhoon is known to be approaching the islands,
and thus preparations can be made for the storm.
Even if the storm is not severe enough to blow a house over,
the thatched roof is sometimes lifted so that the rain pours in,
soaking clothing and furniture. While a baguio is in progress the
people often gather in one room of their house and pray for safety,
chanting their prayer in a most mournful wail that rises and falls
with the gusts of wind.
After such a storm has subsided, the sight is a sorry one; acres of
abaca beaten down and washed into heaps of useless vegetation,--a
most serious loss requiring three years of growth for the plants
to replace themselves; fields that were waving with beautiful green
rice lying flat, ruined for a season; trees broken off or uprooted;
houses roofless or in ruins, and the shores strewn with drift-wood
or wreckage. It is most fortunate that tropical nature is so lavish
with those who live there, else they could not withstand the loss
and devastation that result from the frequent and violent storms.
People who live in volcanic countries may expect earthquakes at
any time, and such shocks are very common in the Philippines,--so
common, in fact, as to arouse little comment unless the shaking is
severe. Francisco was awakened many nights by hearing his bamboo home
creak and by feeling the strange swaying motion, or the sudden jerks,
that are so terrifying when one is only half awake.
Unless the shock is violent there is little danger, even for those
who live in stone houses. In the history of the islands there have
occurred many earthquakes, however, of such strength that whole
cities have been left in ruins. About 1863 Manila and the surrounding
country received a shock that destroyed practically the entire city
and killed thousands of people. In 1880, violent shocks lasted over
a period of ten days, causing untold loss and suffering. In recent
years re-enforced concrete has been taking the place of stone in the
building of bridges, churches, and other large structures, and it
has been found to withstand earthquakes well.
Closely connected with the earthquakes are the volcanoes of the
islands, which have a long and destructive history, especially
Mount Taal (Tä'-äl) near Manila, and Mount Mayon (My-on') in southern
Luzon. The latter volcano has been in eruption many times; the records
show a total of more than twenty-five eruptions since the year 1616,
and it is probable that previous to the nineteenth century observations
were inaccurately made and many eruptions have gone unrecorded. More
than half of the eruptions have been severe. That of February 1, 1814,
was especially dreadful, burying the country around the mountain under
tons of lava and ashes, and causing about twelve hundred deaths. The
parish priest of one of the towns near by has left the following
description of the event:
"Repeated earthquakes took place the night before, and they continued
during the morning of the first. There was then a stronger shock,
and at the same moment a cloud of smoke rose from the mouth of the
volcano. The cloud rose in the form of a pyramid and then assumed a
feathery appearance which was very beautiful. As the sun was shining,
the phenomenon presented various colors. The top was black, the center
took on various colors, while the sides and lower part appeared of an
ashy tint. While we were watching this, we felt a strong earthquake,
which was followed by loud noises and rumblings. The volcano then
continued to vomit forth lava, and the cloud extended till it darkened
the whole district; and then sparks and flashes seemed to come from
the ground and from the cloud, so that the whole presented the aspect
of a most terrible storm. There followed almost immediately a rain of
large, hot stones which broke, and burnt whatever they fell upon. A
little later, smaller stones, sand, and ashes were thrown out for more
than three hours.... Towns were entirely destroyed and burnt.... The
darkness caused by the eruption was noticeable as far as Manila,
... and, according to some, the ashes erupted passed as far as China."
Around the base of Mount Mayon are many geysers and hot springs which
are used for baths as cures for diseases, and as convenient places in
which to scald hogs at butchering times. Gases and steam arise from
cracks in the ground constantly, as if some great kettle were boiling
just beneath the surface of the earth. At times the mountain smokes,
sending up thin, fine wisps that curl lazily into the air or wind in
graceful circles about the crater. Wise men who understand volcanoes
say that it is a good sign when the mountain smokes, because it means
that the gases are escaping, and that an eruption is not so likely
to occur as when the crater is closed and the steam is confined.
There is an interesting story current in various parts of the
Philippine Islands, which advances a new theory to account for
the smoking of volcanoes. It is said that many years ago an old
man lived in the crater of the mountain and ruled all the country
round its base. He permitted the people to use the land part way up
the mountainside, but drew a line beyond which they might not go. He
disappeared for a long time, however, and the people forgot his ruling,
planting tobacco all the way to the summit.
Finally, however, the old man returned, and when he saw that he had
been disobeyed, he was exceedingly angry. He roared out his curses at
the people, shook the mountain, and threw down hot stones and ashes
at them until they fled down into the valley, terrified and ashamed.
As a further punishment, he took all their crop of tobacco and told
them that until he had finished smoking it they might not make any
use of the mountain slopes. Then he retired within the crater with
his immense stock of tobacco, and whenever the mountain smokes, the
older men nod wisely and say he is still smoking the people's tobacco.