on 8 march 1842, pel was appointed commandant of fort batenstein in butre. at this post, he was also responsible for the oversight of the dutch mining enterprise in dabokrom. it is in butre and dabokrom that pel was able to gather most specimens of his career on the gold coast. in january 1844, pel was promoted to resident of fort crèvecoeur in accra, which he found less interesting for taxidermy. on 25 february 1845, pel was appointed to bookkeeper, fiscal, secretary and cashier ad interim in elmina, and on 3 september 1847 he was again sent to fort batenstein in butre, but now as resident. he would stay there until he was granted european leave in late 1850.