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to Women, who take this Draught to acquit themselves of any Accusation of Adultery. . . . Thus in the Description of the Religion of the Negroes, I find myself insensibly fallen upon their Oaths; but since even that is a part of Religious Worship, I have some excuse for pursuing that Subject yet a little farther. If any Person is suspected of Thievery and the Indictment is not clearly made out, he is obliged to clear himself by drinking the Oath-Draught, and to use the Imprecation, that the Fetiche may kill him if he be guilty of Thievery. The several ways of taking Oaths are so numerous, that I should tire you as well as my self with a Repetition of them. . . .

Source: Willem Bosman, A new and accurate description of the coast of Guinea (London: James Knapton and Daniel Midwinter, 1705), Letter 10, 147–50.

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14. South Carolina Strengthens Its Laws against

Poisoning and Slave Doctors, 1740, 1751

South Carolina, like other colonies, regularly passed and revised laws to regulate enslaved laborers. This excerpt contains a 1740 law and an updated and elaborated 1751 law that detailed the punishments deemed suitable for slaves who poisoned others. The 1749 item from the South Carolina Gazette (document 15) provides some helpful context for the revised 1751 law. The attack on slave doctors can also be explained in part by document 15; see also document 16 for another reference to slave doctors (see figure 17).

Why did white colonists worry so much about poisoning, and why did they punish enslaved poisoners so viciously? What similarities and differences do you see between these laws and documents 6 and 7?

1740

And whereas, some crimes and offences of an enormous nature and of the most pernicious consequence, may be committed by slaves, as well as other persons, which being peculiar to the condition and situation of this Province, could not fall within the provision of the laws of England; Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the several crimes and offences hereinafter particularly enumerated, are hereby declared to be felony, without the benefit of clergy, that is to say:—if any slave, free negro, mulattoe, Indian or mestizo . . . shall willfully or maliciously poison or administer any poison to any person, free man, woman, servant or slave, every such slave, free negro, mulattoe, Indian, (except as before excepted,) and mustizoe, shall suffer death as a felon.

1751

VII. And whereas, the detestable crime of poisoning hath of late been frequently committed by many slaves in this Province, and notwithstanding the execution of several criminals for that offence, yet it has not been sufficient to deter others from being guilty of the same; Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, That not only such negroes, mulattoes and mestizoes, whether free or bond, as shall administer poison to any person or persons, whether free or bond, but also all and every negro, mulatto and mestizo, whether free or bond, who shall furnish, procure or convey any poison to any slave or slaves, to be administered to any person or persons as aforesaid, and also all such negroes, mulattoes and mestizoes, whether free or bond, as shall be privy (and not reveal the same,) to the administering of any poison to any person or persons as aforesaid, or be privy (and not reveal the same,) to the furnishing, procuring or conveying any poison to be administered to any person or persons as aforesaid, shall be deemed and adjudged, and all and every of them are hereby declared to be, felons, and shall suffer death, in such manner as the persons appointed and empowered by the Act for the better ordering and governing negroes and other slaves in this Province, for trial of slaves, shall adjudge and determine.

VIII. And for the encouragement of slaves to make discovery of the designs of others to poison any person, Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That every negro, mulatto or mestizo, whether free or bond, who shall hereafter give information of the intention of any other slave to poison any person, or of any slave