ABSTRACT
The Moravian missionary Johannes Horn sent a letter giving details about his new position as postmaster of the mission station Neu-Bambey to Samuel Liebtisch in Berthelsdorf, Germany, on 18 February 1795. According to Horn, the governor of the colony had instructed him to purchase a building “on the country’s account” (auf Landes Rechnung). The necessary materials had already been procured. However, the missionary complained about the heavy work load. Luckily the governor had already offered to cover the rent:
to enable us to buy with this rent, which amounts to more than 460 Guilders a year, a few good work Negroes and maybe also a good house Negro. We considered this yearly rent most favourable and accepted it. Yet until we have these Negroes of our own, we are missing hands for the work, and this has made it an exceedingly tough beginning for us. Brother Wietz works much too hard, and I fear that if we don’t get help from the Negroes soon, our health is going to suffer too much through the exertions of all the necessary work.1
