VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 117 
quarters for the first nisjht. But by continual interruption, oc- 
casioned by parties of Hottentots, who came to take leave, and to 
express tlicir good wishes and prayers, that success might attend irs 
on ourAvay, our departure was delayed till two o'clock. Mean-while, 
a large company had assembled under the grove, who joined in 
singing hj^mns, while we entered our waggons. Our company con- 
sisted of the following persons : 
C. I. Latrobe, John Melville, John Henry Schmitt and his wife, 
and John Jlirgen Stein: with the Hottentots, Marcus Moses, Chris- 
tian Hector, JeremiasWaly, Lebrecht Aris, Johannes Paerl,and his 
father, Leonhard Paerl. The latter had lately been re-adinitted, 
having returned to Gnadenthal after long absence. Like many 
other Hottentots, he had ever been extremely fond of roving, and 
could not well endure to remain long in one place. Several years 
ago, hearing on his tramps some account of Gnadenthal, and that 
there the Hottentots were instructed in the word of God, curiosity 
led him to visit that settlement. He heard the gospel with atten- 
tion, and it pleased God to awaken his heart and snow him the ne- 
cessity of conversion. At his request, he obtained leave to live 
there, and as he conducted himself soberly, there was no intention 
on the part of the Missionaries to send hnn away; but he could not 
long bear to be confined, in attending to a field and garden. After 
many shorter wanderings, he absented himself for three whole years, 
and, during that time, had traversed the whole colony from east to 
west, visiting all places of which he obtained any information ; till 
at length, weary of a vagabond life, he returned to Gnadenthal, and 
having anew obtained permission to reside, began seriously to make 
the concerns of his immortal soul his chief object. 
On account of his general knowledge of every part of the co- 
lony, and especially of the district of Uitenhagen, and the Cham- 
toos Revier, the Brethren recommended him to me as a guide, 
though his age rendered him unfit to bear any great hardships. Jo- 
hannes, his son, had been lately baptized, and possessed not only cle- 
verness in the management of our teams, but a willing and cheerful 
