270 The Natural Historic 



which there is a Law made in this Country, whereby those 

 that run away are obliged (if apprehended and taken, as 

 they generally are) to serve double the time they are absent 

 from their Masters; this they are obliged to perform after 

 the expiration of their Indentures, which is done to prevent 

 their running away before they have served their time, 

 which so deters them, that they are not so guilty of this kind 

 of Practice of late, as formerly. 



Few Masters of Ships will venture to carry on board their 

 Vessels any of these Servants or Debtors from this, or any 

 other of the Provinces, without their giving sufficient secu- 

 rity that they are not in Debt, and Preemen, or publish an 

 Advertisement sometime before their departure out of the 

 Province; wherein they require all Person that they are 

 indebted to. To come, and they will 'pay them what they can 

 make appear to he justly due. And likewise. That all Per- 

 sons indebted to them, are desired to come and pay them 

 before they quit the Country, in such or such a Ship. This 

 being the Substance of this Advertisement, which is fixed on 

 their Court-House Door, for all Persons to peruse. These 

 Obligations being thus performed, they are at their Liberty 

 to go where they please, and the Masters liable to no Pen- 

 alty; but if they should act contrary to the Laws (and they 

 be discovered) both their Persons and Ships are liable to be 

 arrested, and subject to pay whatever the Creditors can make 

 appear due to them, or any other Losses they have sustained 

 thereby. E'otwithstanding all these Laws, some of them run 

 away, and when they are taken, like the Negroes, have [N'eck- 

 yoaks put on them, which they constantly wear, 'till they 

 give sufficient Testimonies of their good behaviour to the 

 contrary. Several Instances of this Nature I have been 

 Eye-witness to during my stay in that Country. 



There 



