uip, load or otherwise prepare any ship or vessel,
within any port or place of the said United States, nor shall cause
any ship or vessel to sail from any port or place within the same, for
the purpose of carrying on any trade or traffic in slaves to any
foreign country; or for the purpose of procuring, from any foreign
kingdom, place or country, the inhabitants of such kingdom, place or
country, to be transported to any foreign country, port or place
whatever, to be sold or disposed of, as slaves; And if any ship or
vessel shall be so fitted out, as aforesaid, for the said purposes, or
shall be caused to sail, so as aforesaid, every such ship or vessel,
her tackle, furniture, apparel and other appurtenances, shall be
forfeited to the United States; and shall be liable to be seized,
prosecuted and condemned, in any of the circuit courts or district
court for the district, where the said ship or vessel may be found and
seized.

Section II. _And be it further enacted_, That all and every person, so
building, fitting out, equipping, loading, or otherwise preparing, or
sending away, any ship or vessel, knowing, or intending that the same
shall be employed in such trade or business, contrary to the true
intent and meaning of this act, or any ways aiding or abetting
therein, shall severally forfeit and pay the sum of two thousand
dollars, one moiety thereof, to the use of the United States, and the
other moiety thereof, to the use of him or her, who shall sue for and
prosecute the same.

Section III. _And be it further enacted_, That the owner, master or
factor of each and every foreign ship or vessel, clearing out for any
of the coasts or kingdoms of Africa, or suspected to be intended for
the Slave-trade, and the suspicion being declared to the officer of
the customs, by any citizen, on oath or affirmation, and such
information being to the satisfaction of the said officer, shall first
give bond with sufficient sureties, to the Treasurer of the United
States, that none of the natives of Africa, or any other foreign
country or place, shall be taken on board the said ship or vessel, to
be transported, or sold as slaves, in any other foreign port or place
whatever, within nine months thereafter.

Section IV. _And be it further enacted_, That if any citizen or
citizens of the United States shall, contrary to the true intent and
meaning of this act, take on board, receive or transport any such
persons, as above described in