Section 17

17. Any vagrant or other person of European extraction may enter into an agreement in writing with the Secretary of State for India in Council, binding himself— (a) to proceed to such port in British India as shall be mentioned in the agreement; (b) there to embark on board such ship and at such time as is directed by an officer appointed in this behalf by the Local Government of the territories in which such port is situate, for the purpose of being removed from India at the expense of the said Secretary of State in Council; (c) to remain on board such ship until she has arrived at her port of destination; and (d) not to return to India until five years have elapsed from the date of such embarkation. Every such agreement may be on unstamped paper and shall be in the form set forth in the second schedule to this Act annexed, or as near thereto as circumstances admit.