CLIMATE. As the archipelago is wholly within the tropics. the climate is naturally very warm. From November to February inclusive. the most temperate months, the temperature ranges from 75° to SO° F. The hottest months are April, May, and June, when the monthly mean ranges between Sl° and 53°, The intermediate temperatures are in March, July, August, Sep tember, and October, when the mean is from 79° to S1°. The temperature at Manila rarely rises above 100' in the shade, and does not fall below CO°. The prevailing atmospheric- humidity in tensifies the discomfort, of heat, from which there is little relief in the three hottest months: but in December. January, and February the nights are fairly cool. As the mean temperature for the year varies merely by a few degrees. only two seasons are recognized. In the wet season, from June to October, five months, the rains are very heavy in the interior and on the west coast, be cause the moist southwest monsoon there pre vails. The east coasts do not share in the ex cessive precipitation, because they are shielded by the mountains. In the dry season, from No to May. the comparatively dry northeast monsoon prevails, there are many; fair days, and the precipitation is greatest on the east coast. The rivers often overflow their banks during the wet season and wide areas in the larger islands are submerged; but the floods are not feared so much as the cyclonic storms of wind and rain known as typhoons. which seldom occur south of 9° N. latitude. but north of that line sometimes destroy the lives of thousands of persons and wreck many vessels and villages. Cyclones are
most frequent in July. August, September, and October. when these whirling winds from the Pacific occasionally sweep the whole archipelago north of Mindanao. The most terrific of these storms recorded in the Philippines struck Manila in ISS2. traveling at a velocity of 140 miles an hour.
The danger from epidemic diseases is not great except for the occasional visitations of cholera. which is difficult to control. as has been proved since the United States acquired the islands.
Smallpox is always prevalent, but very seldom attains wide-spread development. The bubonic plague has never gained a strong foothold, though in 1901-02 the most strenuous efforts were re quired to suppress it. :Malaria is prevalent in some islands, especially Mindoro, Balabac, and parts of Palawan, Luzon, and Mindanao, but large districts are entirely free from it. Mala rial fevers and digestive troubles are the chief diseases. On the whole the health of the natives is fairly good, but the climatic except in some districts, are not favorable to lung resi dence by Americans or Europeans. It is fortunate that some places among the mountains afford health resorts to which white persons may go for recuperation. Such an asylum is the elevated plateau of the small province of Benguet. 150 miles north of Manila, where, during the hottest month of the year. the temperature is not over 70' F. at midday.