250 Tables of Mortality. [No. 3. 



the present day. I have heard it often said in descriptions of hurri- 

 canes there, by persons of all classes, that fearful that the dwelling, 

 house might be blown down the family crept on the ground on all fours 

 (lying flat down when the gusts were most furious) to reach the near- 

 est negro hut or other low sheltered spot ; or a " hurricane house" built 

 of stone for such occasions. Are these Behring's Straits storms analo- 

 gous to those which arise in the interior of the continent of North Ame- 

 rica and pass out to sea over Newfoundland 1 and do the Asiatic 

 storms arise in the plains of eastern Siberia and travel out towards 

 Behring's Straits ?" 



Tables of Mortality according to the experience of the Bengal Civil 

 Service, with the values of Annuities, Assurances^ fyc. — By Capt, 

 J. C. Hannyngton, Bengal Army. 



The following tables are founded on the data contained in a general 

 list of the Civil Service of the Bengal Presidency which was published 

 some years ago by Bamchander Das under the superintendence of the 

 Hon'ble H. T. Prinsep. A slight liberty has been taken with the 

 ages under 25, in order to avoid irregularities in the premia for short 

 assurances. The deviation is however small, and from 25 to 60, the 

 actual data are very closely followed. After 60 the experience is too 

 limited to be serviceable, and the table was thence continued and 

 joined to the Northampton table by means of a curve and its ordinate?. 



The rate of mortality though higher than the English rates, is 

 much more favourable than that determined by Mr. Woolhouse for the 

 Bengal Military. The resulting rates of assurance premia are accord- 

 ingly considerably less than those now used by Assurance offices. 

 Nevertheless the rates here exhibited are beyond doubt sufficient ; for 

 Mr. Nelson's recent investigations on military lives give still lower rates, 

 and hence it may be fairly inferred that the civil experience if further 

 extended would lead to further reductions. 



These remarks may serve to justify the publication of these tables, 

 by shewing that they are fit to be used. The allusion to assurance 

 rates will not it is hoped, be thought misplaced. It springs naturally 



