King Solomon's Mines, H. Rider Haggard

This book was published in London in 1885 by adventure writer Sir H. Hider Haggard.  It is a fable about a group of adventurous men led by the main character Allan Quartermain in search for the lost brother of one of the party.  It takes place in Africa at a time when much of the interior of Africa had yet been explored.

The “King Solomon” of the book title is the Biblical king known for great wisdom and wealth.  The basis for the story is the discovery of the lost mines of King Solomon that are thought to be in Africa.

Haggard knew Africa well, having traveled the continent during the Anglo-Zulu war and the First Boar War.  His character, Allan Quartermain is based on the famous white hunter Frederick Selous. 

The plot starts where Quartermain, an adventurer and white hunter based in South Africa, is approached by Sir Henry Curtis and his friend Good to help find Sir Henry’s brother who was lost searching for King Solomon’s mines.  Quartermain had a crude map that supposedly led to the mines that he did not take seriously.  He agreed to lead the expedition for a share of the treasure, if found.  They also took with them a native, Umbopa, to assist them on the journey. Umbopa had approached them and was insistent on accompanying them.

They traveled by oxcart first then by foot across the desert almost dying of thirst and starvation on the way before entering the mountain ranges.  Whey they cross the mountains they reach a lush, green valley known as Kukuanaland. They follow an ancient road that leads into the valley where they run into Kukuana warriors who threated to kill them until they convince them they are “white men for the stars” – sorcerer gods.  The warriors had never seen firearms or false teeth and they considered such things magic.

They were brought before the King, Twala, who was a ruthless and violent ruler.  He came to power years before when he murdered his brother, the previous king, and drove his brother’s wife and infant son, Ignosi, out into the desert to die.  An evil, ancient hag named Gagool is his advisor.  She roots out potential opposition by ordering witch hunts and murdering any of those identified as traitors. 

Gagool, it appears, senses what Umbopa soon reveals:  he is Ignosi, the rightful kind of the Kukuanas.  A rebellion breaks out, the Englishmen gaining support for Ignosi by taking advantage of their foreknowledge of a lunar eclipse to claim they will black out the moon as proof of Ignosi’s claim.  The Englishmen join Ignosi’s army in a battle.  The rebels overthrow Twala and Sir Henery lops off his head in a duel.

The Englishmen also capture Gagool and make her lead them to the mines.  She shows them a treasure room inside the mountain full of ivory, gold and diamonds that has a secrete stone door, however she does not reveal the trigger that activates the hidden door opening.  After leading them into the treasure room she secretly leaves the room to activate the trigger to close off the room however is detained after she reenters the chamber to make sure they did not follow by a skirmish with a woman named Foulata that had accompanied them and was resting near the door as the others went on.  She tries to escape before the heavy door closes however is crushed under the door and the others were trapped in the treasure room.  After a few despairing days sealed in the dark chamber they discover an escape route and managed to bring out a few pockets full of diamonds on the way out, that proved enough treasure to make them rich.

The Englishmen bid Farwell to Ignosi and return to the desert.  Taking a different route that the one coming in they find Sir Heny’s bother stranded in an oasis by a broken leg, unable to go forward or go back.  They return to South Africa and eventually to England, where they became wealthy with their treasure.