King Solomon's Mines

:For movie info see King Solomon's Mines

Plot summary

Allan Quatermain, an English adventurer and hunter based in Durban, South Africa, is approached by an English aristocrat Sir Henry and his friend Goodman, seeking Quatermain's help to find Sir Henry's lost brother, who was last seen traveling north in to the interior, on a quest for the fabled King Solomon's Mines. Quatermain obtained a map leading to the mines years ago but had never taken it seriously, but agrees to lead an expedition in return for part of the treasure, or a stipend for his son if he is killed along the way. He has little hope they will return alive. They also bring a mysterious native who seems more regal, handsome and well spoken then most porters of his class, but who is very anxious to join the party.

Related Topics:
Durban - South Africa

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Traveling by oxen and cart they reach the edge of a desert. Quatermain's map shows an oasis 60 miles, or halfway across, and they continue by foot, almost dying of thirst before reaching the oasis. They complete the second half of the desert without incident and reach the edge of a mountain chain. They climb to the top and enter a cave where they find the dried and frozen corpse of the 16th century Spanish explorer who had originally drawn Quatermain's map. They cross the mountain chain into a raised valley lush and green and inhabited by a tribe of natives known as the Kukuanas, who are well organized militarily and speak an ancient dialect of Zulu.

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They are taken to see King Twala, who rules over his people with ruthless violence. He came to power years ago when he murdered his brother who had been King, and exiled his brother's wife and infant son, who they assumed died in the desert. King Twala is King in name only as the real brains is an old scheming evil withered hag named Gagool.

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It is secretly revealed that the regal servant who had come with the Englishman is actually the exiled son of the former murdered king. A rebellion is begun and although outnumbered, the rebels succeed in overthrowing Twala and killing him. The Englishmen capture the evil Gagool and she promises to lead them to the mountains where King Solomon's Mine is located. On finding the treasure, Gagool tricks the Englishmen and a giant boulder seals them inside the mountain tomb. With no light and little water they prepare to die. With luck they find an escape route, bringing with them only a few pocketful of diamonds from the immense horde, but still enough to make them rich.

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The party leaves the valley and returns to the desert taking a different route, where they find Sir Henry's brother stranded in an oasis with a broken leg, unable to go forward or back. They all return to Durban and eventually they all return to England, wealthy enough to live out comfortable lives.

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