Bahama Islands by Samuel H. Coombs

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Dec 15, 1910

Bahama Islands

By Samuel H. Coombs

NOVEMBER 11 I left Nassau with as many of our good books as I could carry to visit the island of Abaco, one of the group of nearly three thousand islands and cays in the Bahamas. Abaco lies about one hundred miles north of Nassau, which is the capital, or seat of government. Abaco, with two adjoining cays, has five small settlements, and, in all, about five thousand inhabitants. Four of these settlements I was able to visit on this trip; namely, Wilson City, Marsh Harbor, Hope Town, and Green Turtle Cay. Wilson City is the principal settlement. It has a large lumber mill, an American company having a large concession of pine timber land here. The population of these islands is largely colored. The government has established schools in the settlements, so the people are fairly intelligent; but as they are quite poor, it is impossible to sell any but our smaller books to them. I am glad to say that in each place visited I disposed of a number of this class of books, and also had some good personal talks and visits with them. The people are seemingly very religious, churches being in evidence everywhere, each small settlement being represented by five or six denominations; but I never saw a people more in need of the plain gospel truths of the Bible. I am thankful that the good books left with them will be the means of giving to some the third angel's message.

Elder W. A. Sweany has rented a hall in Nassau, where the message is presented three nights a week, the believers also meeting there for Sabbath services. On the twenty-fifth I leave again for Governor's Harbor, another of the island group.

SAMUEL H. COOMBS.