Laws Against Obeah in the British Caribbean

This law passed the colonial legislature of Jamaica in 1760. The complete law contains many articles regarding the treatment and regulation of enslaved people. This Jamaican law is unique in that it was the first throughout the British Caribbean to outlaw the practice of obeah among enslaved people. The contents of this law came as a result of Tackey's Rebellion. Edward Long noted in his history of the colony that Tackey had been advised by a "famous obeiah man and priest," thus leading to a crack down of this practice. Other British colonies would follow in the decades that followed.

And in order to prevent the many Mischiefs that may hereafter arise from the wicked Art of Negroes going under the appellation of Obeah Men and Women, pretending to have Communication with the Devil and other evil spirits, whereby the weak and superstitious are deluded into a Belief of their having full Power to exempt them whilst under their Protection from any Evils that might otherwise happen Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid that from and after the first day of June which will be in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Sixty one, any Negro or other Slave who shall pretend to any Supernatural Power, and be detected in making use of any Blood, Feathers, Parrots Beaks, Dogs Teeth, Alligators Teeth, Broken Bottles, Grave Dirt, Rum, Egg-shells or any other Materials relative to the Practice of Obeah or Witchcraft in order to delude and impose on the Minds of others shall upon Conviction thereof before two Magistrates and three Freeholders suffer death or Transportation any thing in this Act or any other Law to the contrary notwithstanding.

This law passed the colonial legislature of Jamaica on 6 December 1788. The complete law contains many articles regarding the treatment and regulation of enslaved people.

XXXIII. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Slave shall offer any Violence, by Striking or otherwise, to any White Person, such Slave, upon due and proper Proof, shall, upon Conviction, be punished with Death, or Confinement to hard Labour for Life or otherwise, as the Court shall in their Discretion think proper to inflict; provided such Striking or Conflict be not by Command of his or their Owners, Overseers, or Persons intrusted over them, or in the lawful Defence of their Owners Persons or Goods.

XL. And in order to prevent the many Mischiefs that may hereafter arise from the wicked Art of Negroes going under the Appellation of Obeah Men and Women, pretending to have Communication with the Devil and other evil Spirits, whereby the weak and superstitious are deluded into a Belief of their having full Power to exempt them, whilst under their Protection, from any Evils that might otherwise happen: Be it therefore Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That from and after the 1st Day of January aforesaid, any Slave who shall pretend to any supernatural Power, in order to affect the Health or Lives of others, or promote the Purposes of Rebellion, shall, upon Conviction thereof, suffer Death, or such other Punishment as the Court shall think proper to direct; any Thing in this or any other Act to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding.

XVI. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Negro or other Slave shall mix or prepare with an Intent to give, or cause to be given, any Poison or poisonous Drug, or shall actually give or cause to be given any such Poison or poisonous Drug, although Death may not ensue upon the taking thereof, the said Slave or Slaves, together with their Accessaries [sic], as well before as after the Fact (being Slaves), being duly convicted thereof, shall suffer Death, or be confined to hard Labour for Life, as the Court shall determine; any Thing in this or any other Act to the contrary notwithstanding.

This law passed the colonial legislature of Dominica on 23 December 1788. The complete law contains many articles regarding the treatment and regulation of enslaved people.

XI. And whereas it frequently happens that Slaves assume the Art of Witchcraft, or are what is commonly called Obeah or Doctor Men, and, under Pretence of a Gift of supernatural Powers, do influence the Minds of weak and credulous Slaves, and frequently stimulate them to Acts of Mutiny or Rebellion against their Masters, Renters, Managers, and Overseers, and administer certain Drugs or Potions of a secret and generally of a poisonous Nature, as well to Slaves, as to free People of every Description; Be it, and it is hereby further Enacted and Ordained by the Authority Aforesaid, That any Owner, Renter, Manager, or Overseer of any Slave or Slaves, or any White Person whatever, who shall discover any Slave or Slaves practicing any of the above Arts, and pretending to any supernatural Powers, he the said Owner, Renter, Manager, or Overseer, shall cause the said Slave or Slaves to be committed to the public Gaol of this Island, and then and there to be dealt with agreeable to the 12th and 13th Clauses of this Act: And upon Conviction of the said Slave or Slaves of the aforesaid Crimes, he she, or they shall suffer Death or such other Punishment, at the Direction of the Court, by Banishment and Flogging on the bare Breech, as to the said Court may seem meet, provided the said Flogging do not exceed the Number of Thirty-nine Lashes.