392 HISTORY OF THE [book iv» 
tlement, belonging to or in the possession of any such goal-keeper, 
nor hire or lend such slave or slaves out to work for any other person 
or persons, during such time such slave or slaves shall be in his cus¬ 
tody, but that all such slaves shall be and remain in the common gaol 
of the County or parish, in order to be inspected by any person or 
persons desiring the same; and in case any gaol-keeper shall offend 
herein, he shall, for every offence, forfeit the sum of fifty pounds. 
(Certain runaways, how liable to be punished.) 
XLII. Aud be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That 
all slaves who shall have been in this island for the space of two years, 
and shall run away, and continue absent for a term not exceeding six 
months, shall be liable to be tried by two justices; and, upon con¬ 
viction thereof, such slave or slaves shall suffer such punishment as 
the said justices shall think proper to inflict. 
(Runaways absent six months, how punishable.) 
XLIII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That 
if any slave shall run away from his owner or lawful possessor, and 
be absent for more than six months, such slave, being duly con¬ 
victed thereof, shall be sentenced to be confined to hard labour for 
such time as the court shall determine, or be transported for life, ac¬ 
cording to the magnitude of the offence. 
(Slaves guilty of Oheab, how punishable.) 
XLIV. And, in order to prevent the many mischiefs that may here¬ 
after arise from the wicked art of negroes going under the appellation 
of Obeah men and women, pretending to have communication with 
the devil and other evil spirits, whereby the weak and superstitious are 
deluded into a belief of their having full power to exempt them, 
whilst under their protection, from any evils that might otherwise hap¬ 
pen ; Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, That, from 
and after the passing of this act, any slave who shall pretend to any 
supernatural power, in order to promote the purposes of rebellion, 
shall, upon conviction thereof, suffer death, transportation, or such 
other punishment as the court shall think proper to direct; any thing 
in this, or any other act, to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding. 
