Bahama Islands.—So lately as in 1784, it was enacted there, that "if any slave shall absent him or herself from his or her owner, for the space of three months successively, such slave shall be deemed an outlaw, and, as an encouragement to apprehend and bring to justice such runaways, any person or persons who shall apprehend any such runaway, either alive or dead, shall be paid out of the publick treasury twenty pounds, for every slave so apprehended and taken," &c. [1]
St. Christopher's.—"An act to prevent the cutting off or depriving any slaves in this island of any of their limbs or members, or otherwise disabling them,"—passed March 11th, 1784."
"Whereas some persons have of late been guilty of cutting off and depriving slaves of their ears, which practice is contrary to the principles of humanity and dishonourable to society; for prevention whereof in future, be it enacted by the Governor, &c. That if any owner or possessor of any negro or other slave in this island, shall wilfully and wantonly cut or disable, or cause or procure to be cut out or disabled the tongue; put out, or cause or procure to be put out, an eye; slit the nose, ear, or lip, or cut off a nose, ear, or lip, or cause the same to be done; or break or cause to be broken, the arm, leg, or any other limb, or member of any negro," &c. The penalty is 500l. currency, or about 300l sterling, and six months imprisonment. [2]
