404 
HISTORY OF THE [book iv. 
wards the support of the government of this island, and the contingent 
charges thereof, and the other moiety to the party or parties at whose 
suit or complaint such person was convicted, ana shall als,o suffer im¬ 
prisonment, at the discretion of the said court, for any space of time 
not exceeding twelve months, without bail or mainprize. 
(Persons so offending to be proceeded against.') 
LXX. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
it shall and may be lawful to proceed against the person or persons so 
aiding assisting or abetting, such slave or slaves in going off this 
island, whether the principal or principals be convicted or notany 
thing in this, or any other act, law, custom, or usage to the contra¬ 
ry notwithstanding. 
(Overseers not to leave estates on holy days .) 
LXXI. And wheress the overseers of estates in this island matce a 
frequent practice of leaving the several estates under their care and 
management, on the respective seasons allowed for negro holydays, 
whereby many dangerous meetings and pernicious practices are carried 
on ; In order therefore, to prevent the like for the future. Be it en¬ 
acted by the authority aforesaid, That if any overseer in this island 
shall absent himself from the estate under his care and management, 
on any of the particular holydays herein before mentioned to be al¬ 
lowed to slaves, without leave of his employer, every such overseer so 
offending, shall, for every offence, forfeit the sum of five pounds, to 
be recovered by information, upon oath, before any justice of the 
peace, in a summary way, in the parish where such offence shall hap¬ 
pen ; any law, custom, or usage to the contrary notwithstanding. 
{Slaves not to be mutilated .) 
LXXII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. 
That it shall not be lawful for any justice of the peace, sitting on the 
trial of any slave or slaves, or otherwise, to sentence or order any 
slave to be mutilated or maimed for any offence whstsoever. 
(Punishment on such as escape from the voorkhouse.) 
LXXIII. And be it further enacted, That if any negro or other 
slave who may be sentenced to be confined in the workhouse for the 
