393 
APPENDIX.] WEST INDIES. 
(Slaves attempting to poison, to suffer death.) 
XLV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if 
any negro or other slave shall mix or prepare, with an intent to give, 
or cause to be given, any poison or poisonous drug, or shall actually 
give, or cause to be given, any such poison or poisonous drug, in 
the practice of Obeah or otherwise, although death may not ensue 
upon the taking thereof, the said slave or slaves, together with their 
accessaries, as well before as after the fact (being slaves), being duly 
convicted thereof, shall suffer death, or transportation for life, as the 
court shall determine ; any thing in this, or any other act, to the con¬ 
trary notwithstanding. 
(Slaves punishable if found in possession of large quantities of fresh 
meat.) 
XLVI. And whereas great numbers of horned cattle, sheep, goats, 
horses, mares, mules, and asses, are frequently stolen and killed by 
negro and other slaves, in so secret and private a manner that it is 
with the greatest difficulty they can be found out and discovered, in 
Such manner as to convict them of such offence, although large quan* 
tity of beef, mutton, and the flesh of other valuable animals, are 
found upon him, her, or them; in order, therefore, to prevent such 
evils in future, and to punish the perpetrators of such acts, agreeably 
to their crimes, Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
if any negro or other slave shall fraudulently have in his, her, or 
their custody or possession, unknown to his or her master, owner, 
overseer, or other person, who shall have the overlooking or employ¬ 
ing of such slave, any fresh beef, veal, mutton, or goat, or the flesh 
of horse, mare, mule, or ass, in any quantity exceeding five and not 
exceeding twenty pounds weight, such negro or other slave, upon due 
conviction thereof before any two magistrates, shall be whipped in 
such manner as such magistrates shall direct, not exceeding thirty- 
nine lashes; and if there shall be found in his, her, or their custody 
or possession, a larger or greater quantity than twenty pounds weight 
of fresh beef, veal, mutton, or goat, or the flesh of horse, mare, 
mule, or ass, and such slave shall not give a satisfactory account how 
he or she became possessed of such meat, that then such negro or other 
slave, upon conviction thereof, shall suffer such punishment as the 
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