ART. 66.] NEGROES. 455

dred dollars; on condition that said owner of such negro shall
not permit him to depart and remain at large, contrary to the
provisions of the last preceding section.

28. Upon breach of the condition of such recognizance, the
owner or his security may be made to pay said penalty by writ
of scire facias, in the name of the State, for the use of the county
or city.

29. Any person who shall make any contract with a slave, for
the services of such slave, shall be liable to indictment and fine
not exceeding twenty dollars.

30. Any person being the owner, or having the possession or
control of a slave, who shall permit such slave to go at large, or
hire himself, shall be liable to indictment in the Circuit Court
for the county where such owner or person resides, or the Crimi-
nal Court of Baltimore if he resides in the city of Baltimore,
and on conviction, may be fined not exceeding twenty dollars.
This and the preceding section not to apply to negroes hiring
themselves at harvest not exceeding twenty days.

31. The owner of any plantation who shall at tiny time find
any strange negro slave thereon, unless sent there by his owner
on lawful occasion, and shall order such negro to go home, may,
upon his refusal or delay so to do, punish such negro by whip-
ping, not exceeding thirty-nine lashes.

SUPERANNUATED SLAVES.

32. The county commissioners shall make such suitable pro-
vision for old and infirm negro slaves belonging to insolvent
estates of deceased persons, as in their judgment may be neces
sary for their support and maintenance.

TRANSPORTING SLAVES BY VESSELS, OR STEAMBOATS OR RAIL

ROADS.

33. If any master or officer of a vessel shall receive on board
said vessel, or transport from this State, any negro, until such
negro shall produce a regularly authenticated certificate of
freedom from some clerk or register of a court of this State,
accompanied by a certificate by the clerk of the Circuit Court
for the county where such vessel may clear, or the clerk of