The Mysterious List of Names

As we have already said, this section of text (seemingly because of a missing middle portion) starts abruptly with a list of names. Without any preceding text providing some context, it is almost impossible to be certain what the list was supposed to represent. However, because several of these names (e.g. Christoff Griep (sic), Jacob Griep (sic), Jacob Drews and Johann Lenz) can be found in the Neu Arzis 1835 census, I have my own theory—at least some of them are Arzis colonists. (There could be more if the DAI typist made any mistakes in spelling.)

The writer is probably giving news about their status because they are close friends and relatives known by the readers still living in Poland (who were left behind when the Bessarabia-bound settlers relocated). That is why several individuals are listed as having died, and one married (in Warsaw, perhaps just before leaving for Bessarabia?) with children.

This list appears, then, to simply be an update of who arrived in Bessarabia, and if they are still alive. Given that the Arzis colonists had to spend two years in Moldavian villages before settling their community (1814-1816), this could have been the first correspondence these readers had received about their emigrating friends for up to 5-6 years!