This discussion of official publications relating to Africa in the Public Record Office (PRO) concentrates on those to be found among the records of the Colonial Office, although some other departments are touched upon. The Colonial Office required governors of British dependencies to send a variety of publications and returns to London. In 1817 they were instructed to forward annual details about civil and military offices in their territories, with names and salaries of office holders. Five years later they were asked to submit various types of statistical data entered into blank books with 22 printed headings supplied from London.