22d. No laborer is allowed, without the especial permission of the owner or
manager, to appropriate wood, grass, vegetables, fruits, and the like, belonging to the
estate, nor to appropriate such produce from other estates, nor to cut canes, or to burn
charcoal. Persons making themselves guilty of such offenses, shall be punished
according to law, with fines or imprisonment with hard labor; and the possession of
such articles not satisfactorily accounted for, shall be sufficient evidence of unlawful
acquisition.

 23d. All agreements contrary to the above rules, are to be null and void, and
owners and managers of estates convicted of any practice tending wilfully to
counteract or avoid these rules by direct or indirect means, shall be subject to a fine
not exceeding $200.

 (Signed,) P. HANSEN.

 Government House, St. Croix, 26th January, 1849.