Chapter I: Introduction

I. I MEET SIR HENRY CURTIS II. THE LEGEND OF SOLOMON’S MINES III. UMBOPA ENTERS OUR SERVICE IV. AN ELEPHANT HUNT V. OUR MARCH INTO THE DESERT VI. WATER! WATER! VII. SOLOMON’S ROAD VIII. WE ENTER KUKUANALAND IX. TWALA THE KING X. THE WITCH-HUNT XI. WE GIVE A SIGN XII. BEFORE THE BATTLE XIII. THE ATTACK XIV. THE LAST STAND OF THE GREYS XV. GOOD FALLS SICK XVI. THE PLACE OF DEATH XVII. SOLOMON’S TREASURE CHAMBER XVIII. WE ABANDON HOPE XIX. IGNOSI’S FAREWELL XX. FOUND

PREPARER’S NOTE

This was typed from a 1907 edition published by Cassell and Company, Limited.

DEDICATION

This faithful but unpretending record of a remarkable adventure is hereby respectfully dedicated by the narrator,

ALLAN QUATERMAIN,

to all the big and little boys who read it.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

The author ventures to take this opportunity to thank his readers for the kind reception they have accorded to the successive editions of this tale during the last twelve years. He hopes that in its present form it will fall into the hands of an even wider public, and that in years to come it may continue to afford amusement to those who are still young enough at heart to love a story of treasure, war, and wild adventure.

Ditchingham, 11 March, 1898.

POST SCRIPTUM

Now, in 1907, on the occasion of the issue of this edition, I can only add how glad I am that my romance should continue to please so many readers. Imagination has been verified by fact; the King Solomon’s Mines I dreamed of have been discovered, and are putting out their gold once more, and, according to the latest reports, their diamonds also; the Kukuanas or, rather, the Matabele, have been tamed by the white man’s bullets, but still there seem to be many who find pleasure in these simple pages. That they may continue so to do, even to the third and fourth generation, or perhaps longer still, would, I am sure, be the hope of our old and departed friend, Allan Quatermain.

H. Rider Haggard. Ditchingham, 1907.