ART. 66.] NEGROES. 453

his house or plantation, to be recovered before a single justice of
the peace, as small debts are, if the sum does not exceed one
hundred dollars—and if such sum exceeds one hundred dollars,
then the same may be recovered by action of debt, or by indict-
ment, in the Circuit Court for the county where the offence was
committed, one-half to be paid to the State, and the other half
to the owner of such slave.

15. If any slave shall be guilty of the offence mentioned in the
preceding section, he shall be punished by whipping.

16. If any slave shall travel by land or water ten miles from

the house of his master, without a note under his hand, or under
the hand of his overseer, he may be arrested and committed
as a runaway.

17. Any person who shall encourage slaves to meet in com-
panies on his plantation, unless on lawful occasions, shall forfeit
and pay for every offence twenty dollars.

DEALING WITH SLAVES.

18. No person shall purchase or acquire by barter, exchange
or gift, from any slave, any goods or chattels of any description,
without the permission in writing of the owner, employer or
overseer of such slave.

19. No person shall sell to any slave any goods or chattels
whatever, without the permission in writing of the master, em-
ployer or overseer of such slave.

20. Any person who shall violate the provisions of either of the
last two preceding sections, shall on conviction thereof before a
justice of the peace of the city or county where the offence is
committed, be fined five dollars, one-half to the county or city
and the other half to the informer.

21. Any slave selling liquor, or keeping entertainment, at any
muster ground or other public place without the permission in
writing of his owner, may be apprehended and punished in the
discretion of any justice of the peace, not exceeding twenty
lashes.