The "Davis" Indians
By Adriel Chilson

“YOU should send someone to visit that tribe," a jungle explorer urged Elder Davis, "for they are worshiping on Saturday, just as you do." Ovid E. Davis of the British Guiana Mission office could scarcely believe the report: Sabbath-keepers in the rugged mountains near the border of Venezuela, an area unpenetrated by Christian missionaries. Thus begins one of the most thrilling stories of Adventist missions.

When Davis became president of British Guiana Mission, he planned to concentrate his evangelistic efforts on the city of Georgetown. Neither funds nor personnel could be spared for jungle outposts. Yet in the years that followed, travelers through southern Guiana continued to bring reports of Sabbath-keeping Indians.

In 1910 two Indians from an isolated Mount Roraima tribe came to the Adventist office to appeal for a missionary. Finally, a year later Davis resolved to make the hazardous journey in company with an Indian guide. Canoeing up dangerous rivers, following tortuous jungle trails, and greatly weakened by fever, he reached the tribe from which the request came. As best he could, he presented to them the gospel story, also teaching them several songs and the English alphabet.

As he rapidly declined in strength as a result of black-water fever, he reassured his converts that another "God-man" would come. Davis died, and the Indians buried him and raised a large marker over his grave. Soon reports from commercial travelers told of an Indian tribe singing hymns every Sabbath beside a well-marked grave.

In 1925 missionaries W. E. Baxter and C. B. Sutton determined to follow up what Davis had begun. Reaching the area after six weeks of travel, they were greeted by an Indian with the words "I want to be a good man." He then sang clearly: "There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus; no, not one; no, not one."

The Indians pointed to the grave of Elder Davis, where they gathered every Sabbath to sing gospel songs and to repeat the alphabet (which to them had become as a prayer). Returning to Georgetown, the missionaries appealed to the General Conference for volunteers with medical skills to establish a permanent mission station among the Mount Roraima tribes.

In 1927 Alfred Cott and his wife, Betty, both nurses from Glendale, California, answered the call and established a school.

Two years later they learned of another Sabbath-keeping tribe several days' travel away. There they were startled to meet clean, well-clothed Indians with some knowledge of English, whose leaders asked, "May we see your Bible?" When the Cotts produced three, their eyes sparkled. "You our missionaries!"

Then Chief Promi stepped forward and explained, "Angel tell my father, Chief Owkwa, when true missionaries come, they have black book printed in England." The Cotts' Bibles had been printed in London. These Indians called one another "brother" and "sister." They were familiar with such English terms as Jesus, heavenly Father, hallelujah, New Jerusalem, "body is temple," Satan, sorrow and trial, etc.

The Cotts saw the whitewashed meetinghouse where services were held every Sabbath. Elder Cott unpacked his projector, hung up a sheet, and prepared for an evening meeting. The Indians opened the service by singing a hymn in English that was unfamiliar to their visitors, then Chief Promi offered an earnest prayer. When Elder Cott showed a picture of Jesus coming with the angels, his viewers exclaimed, "Yes, this is just what Chief Owkwa described to us."

The next day Elder Cott quizzed them on their Bible knowledge. They were already familiar with all the Adventist doctrines, and had been Sabbath-keepers for about 26 years.

Heavenly Vision
"Owkwa tell us!" the people exclaimed. "Angel tell Owkwa!" Chief Promi told the story. "One day my father having a meeting; he suddenly no talk more. His eyes like glass. He look to heaven, but he no breathe. I think he dead. Some people try to put him down on floor, but he stand like rock. No could move him. When he take deep breath and blink eyes, I ask, 'Papa, you sick?' He tell me no. He describe heaven as you show us in pictures, long table and all. He say heaven bright place. He want to stay and not come back.

"Angel come many times," Promi continued. "Papa tell Great Spirit he like to make his people good. Many days and nights he pray. Angel say to keep seven day holy, begin at sundown. No work then."

Today Adventists maintain a large mission at Mount Roraima, with a landing. strip that has reduced travel to this remote area from weeks to but a few hours.