The question of the rate of mortality experienced by residents on the West Coast of Africa, has recently attracted considerable attention among actuaries. And indeed it is one of increasing importance. Partly owing to the growth of the Liverpool trade with the West Coast, partly owing to the spread of European ideas (including that of life assurance) among the natives, the number of proposals to life offices from residents in Africa is each year becoming greater. It is most desirable, therefore, that some attempt should be made as soon as possible to measure the extra risk of residence on the West Coast, and it is with the object of assisting such an attempt that the present note is offered to the readers of the Journal