VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 
61 
that time, to the year 1792, the Brethren did not cease to make 
application to the Dutch Government for leave to send mission- 
aries to the Cape, especially as they heard, that the small Hot- 
tentot congregation had kept together for some time, in earnest 
expectation of the return of their beloved teacher. Brother 
Schmidt had left a. Dutch New Testament with them, which they 
r^ad together for their edification. 
At length, in 1792, by the mercy of God, and the kind inter- 
fereace of friends in the D^itch Government, leave was given to 
^end out three missionaries, who, on their arrival, were willing, 
at the desire of the Governor, to go first to Bavians-Kloof, and 
there to commence their labours, on the same spot where Bro- 
ther Schmidt had resided. Instructions from the Government in 
Holland directed them to chuse the place of their residence, 
wherever they might find it most convenient ; but the circum- 
stances of the colony at that time would not admit of it. 
The English having made themselves masters of the colony iu 
1796, the Brethren were permitted to build a Church, and by 
the favour which the British Government has uniformly shown to 
the Brethren's Missions, they now remain undisturbed and pro- 
tected in their civil and religious liberty. 
In 1792 when the three missionaries, Henry JMarsveld, Daniel 
Schwinn, and John Christian Kuehnel came hither, they found 
an old woman, Helena, baptized by Brother Schmidt, still alive, 
who delivered to them the New Testament he had given her. 
But few vestiges of his dwelling remained. The place was a per- 
fect wilderness; at present thirteen hundred Hottentots inhabit 
the village. The name Gnadenthal was given to it by the Dutch 
Governor Jansen, 
We spent the first afternoon after our arrival, in walking througli 
part of the settlement. Out of every house and hut, men, women, 
and children, came forth with friendly faces to meet us, and to 
testify their joy at our arrival. Having observed to some of the 
inhabitants, who live near the church, that the place before their 
