appendix.] WEST INDIES. 3S3 
to cultivate their cwn provision-grounds (exclusive of Sundays), ex¬ 
cept during the time of crop ; but the same not being compulsory,. 
Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the slaves be¬ 
longing to, or employed on, every plantation or settlement, shall, 
over and above the holydays herein before-mentioned, be allowed one 
day in every fortnight, to cultivate tbeir own provision-grounds, ex¬ 
clusive of Sundays, except during the time of crop, under the penalty 
of fifty pounds, to be recovered against the overseer or other person 
having the care of such slaves. 
(Time allowed for breakfast , &c.) 
XX. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
every field-slave on such plantation or settlement shall, on work days, 
be allowed, according to custom, half an hour for breakfast, and two 
hours for dinner $ and that no slaves shall be compelled to any man¬ 
ner of field-work upon the plantation before tbe hour of five in the 
morning, or after the hour of seven at night, except during the time 
of crop, under the penalty of fifty pounds, to be recovered against the 
overseer, or other person having the care of such slaves. 
{Penalty for suffering unlawful assemblies of slaves.) 
XXI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
if any master, owner, guardian, or attorney, of any plantation or 
settlement, shall hereafter suffer any strange slaves, exceeding twelve 
in number, to assemble together and beat their military drums, or 
blow their horns, or shells, upon any plantation, pen, or settlement, 
or in any yard or place under his, her, or their, care or management, 
or shall nut endeavour to disperse or prevent the same, by immediate¬ 
ly giving notice thereof to the next magistrate or commissioned officer 
that a proper force may be sent to disperse the said slaves ; every such 
master, owr,er, guardian, or attorney, shall, for every such offence, 
upon conviction thereof, upon an indictment in the supreme court of 
judicature or courts of assize, pay a fine of fifty pounds to his majes¬ 
ty, his heirs and successors, for and towards the support of the go¬ 
vernment of this island, and the contingent charges thereof: Provi¬ 
ded nevertheless. That information of such chence shall be made, 
upon oath, before any of ins majesty’s justices of the peace, within 
the space of five days after the commission of such offence. 
