"Macumazahn" is the Zulu name given to Allan Quatermain.
At some point I intend to sell African obscure on this site.
Journey Across the Globe
ALlan Quatermain
Allan Quatermain
Allan Quatermain is a fictional character created by H. Rider Haggard, first appearing in the 1885 novel King Solomon's Mines. A British adventurer, big-game hunter, and explorer in colonial Africa, a prototype for later action heroes like Indiana Jones. Quatermain is rugged, skilled, and principled, with a deep knowledge of African landscapes and cultures.
Born in England, he’s a widower who ventures into uncharted territories for treasure, duty, or survival. In the first book, King Solomon's Mines, he leads an expedition to find a lost diamond mine, facing dangers like hostile tribes, treacherous terrain, and betrayal. His blend of grit, wit, and moral code—preferring adventure over greed—made him iconic.
Frederick Courteney Selous
Frederick Courteney Selous was born on December 31, 1851, in London, England. Growing up in Regent’s Park, he developed a deep fascination with nature, collecting butterflies and even poaching as a teenager. His father, Frederick Selous Sr., was the chairman of the London Stock Exchange, and his mother, Ann Sherborn, shared a love for the natural world. Educated at Rugby School, Selous founded the Natural History Society in 1867 and was influenced by books like David Livingstone’s Missionary Travels and Research in South Africa (1857) and William Charles Baldwin’s African Hunting and Adventure from Natal to the Zambesi (1863), shaping his ambitions for African exploration.
At 19, Selous left for Africa in 1871, arriving in Port Elizabeth with 150 kg of baggage, including guns and novels, after a 37-day passage. He traveled to Kimberly, hiring a transport rider, and worked hunting game for the transport. His hunting career began in earnest, with his first lion sighting in August 1872 and meeting Lobengula, King of the Matabele, in September 1872. His first elephant expedition hunt took a total 400lbs of ivory which he sold for £300. His adventures were detailed in his bestseller A Hunter’s Wanderings in Africa (1881).
Selous’s explorations added significantly to European knowledge of Africa, particularly south-central regions later known as Rhodesia and now Zimbabwe. He mapped uncharted areas, earning the Royal Geographical Society’s medal in 1890 for mapping the River Umfuli. In 1890, he joined the British South Africa Company, guiding settlers to establish Fort Salisbury (now Harare) and playing a role in the First Matabele War, scouting during the advance on Bulawayo in November 1893. His work helped bring Manicaland under British control.
Selous was a pioneer in conservation, advocating for wildlife protection and helping establish game reserves. The Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania, one of Africa’s largest protected areas, is named in his honor.
His influence extended to literature, inspiring H. Rider Haggard’s Allan Quatermain and featuring in Wilbur Smith’s novels like Rage (1987) and Men of Men (1981).
During World War I, Selous served in East Africa, participating in skirmishes between German and British colonial forces. He was shot by a sniper and killed at age 65 on January 4, 1917, near the Rufiji River in Tanzania.
Allan Quatermain Books
King Solomon's Mines
King Solomon's Mines is an adventure novel by H. Rider Haggard, first published in 1885. It follows Allan Quatermain, a seasoned hunter, and his companions—Sir Henry Curtis and Captain John Good—as they embark on a perilous quest to find Curtis’s missing brother and the legendary treasure of King Solomon in an uncharted African region. The story is set against a backdrop of colonial exploration, featuring thrilling encounters with wildlife, hostile tribes, and treacherous landscapes.
The book is considered a foundational work of the "lost world" genre, blending exoticism, imperialism, and suspense.
Allan Quatermain
Allan Quatermain is an 1887 novel. It follows the adventurer Allan Quatermain, Sir Henry Curtis, and Captain John Good as they journey to a remote African region to investigate rumors of a lost white civilization. Joined by Umslopogaas, a Zulu warrior, they encounter the Zu-Vendi people, a light-skinned tribe ruled by two queens, Nyleptha and Sorais. The story blends adventure, romance, and political intrigue, culminating in a civil war and tragic sacrifices.
The novel expands Quatermain’s character, portraying him as a grizzled yet honorable hero.
Allan's Wife
Allan's Wife is a novella, first published in 1889 as part of the collection Allan's Wife and Other Tales. It is the third entry in the Allan Quatermain series though chronologically it is a prequel set early in Quatermain’s life. The story provides a personal glimpse into the life of the iconic adventurer, focusing on his childhood, early years in Africa, and his marriage to Stella, the mother of his son, Harry.
Maiwa's Revenge
Maiwa's Revenge, or The War of the Little Hand is a novella, published in 1888. Set in South Africa, it’s a prequel detailing an earlier adventure of the hunter Allan Quatermain, focusing on vengeance, tribal warfare, and his strategic prowess.
Quatermain narrates this tale from his past, where he becomes embroiled in the quest of Maiwa, a young African woman seeking revenge against her husband, Wambe, a cruel chief who killed her child and banished her. Maiwa, now married to Quatermain’s ally Nala, enlists Quatermain’s help to overthrow Wambe and reclaim her son’s honor. Quatermain, joined by his loyal servant Gobo and a small group, leads a daring campaign against Wambe’s fortified kraal. Using his knowledge of the terrain and hunting skills, Quatermain orchestrates a war between rival tribes, outwits Wambe’s forces, and facilitates Maiwa’s vengeance. The story is action-packed, with vivid descriptions of battles, elephant hunts, and African landscapes, culminating in Maiwa’s triumph and Wambe’s downfall.
Marie
A novel, published in 1912, and the first in a trilogy of Allan Quatermain prequels, followed by Child of Storm (1913) and Finished (1917). Set in South Africa during the 1830s, it chronicles a young Allan Quatermain’s early adventures, focusing on his first love and his role in the historical tensions between Dutch Boers, British settlers, and Zulu tribes. The novel blends romance, adventure, and historical fiction.
Child of Storm
Child of Storm a novel published in 1913.. Set in South Africa during the 1850s, it depicts a slightly older Allan Quatermain embroiled in Zulu political intrigue, romance, and warfare. The novel blends historical fiction with adventure, focusing on the rise and fall of a charismatic Zulu woman and the looming Zulu civil conflicts.
Holy Flower
The Holy Flower, a novel, published in 1915 is set in South Africa and central Africa, it follows the aging adventurer on a quest for a rare orchid, blending adventure, mysticism, and colonial exploration. The story combines Haggard’s signature “lost world” elements with themes of obsession and cultural conflict.
The Ivory Child
The Ivory Child is a novel published in 1916. Quatermain, now in his later years, is drawn into a new adventure when he meets Lord Ragnall, a wealthy Englishman, and his fiancée, Luna Holmes, in England. Luna is haunted by visions of a mysterious African child and an ivory mask linked to her past. Quatermain, accompanied by his loyal Hottentot servant Hans, joins Ragnall’s expedition to Africa to uncover the truth. They encounter the White Kendah, a tribe worshipping a child oracle, and the Black Kendah, their rivals led by a fanatical priest, Harût. The groups clash over the “Ivory Child,” a sacred artifact tied to the tribes’ religion. Quatermain navigates tribal warfare, supernatural phenomena, and a rescue mission, using his cunning and marksmanship to survive. The story explores themes of destiny and cultural misunderstanding, culminating in a dramatic resolution.
Finished
Finished is a novel, published in 1917, and the third and final book in the Allan Quatermain prequel trilogy, following Marie (1912) and Child of Storm (1913). Set in South Africa during the 1870s, it depicts an older Allan Quatermain caught in the historical prelude to the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. The novel blends adventure, political intrigue, and mysticism, focusing on Quatermain’s role in Zulu-British tensions and his encounters with spiritual forces.
Quatermain, now a seasoned hunter and trader in his 50s, narrates a story from his past. He is drawn into a complex web of events involving the Zulu king Cetshwayo, British colonial authorities, and a mysterious Zulu seer named Zikali, the “Opener of Roads.” Zikali, a cunning and vengeful figure, manipulates Quatermain and others to destabilize the Zulu kingdom, seeking retribution for past wrongs. Quatermain, accompanied by his Hottentot servant Hans, navigates alliances with historical figures like Sir Theophilus Shepstone and faces dangers from Zulu warriors and internal betrayals. The story explores the annexation of the Transvaal and the brewing conflict that leads to the Anglo-Zulu War, with Quatermain as a reluctant intermediary. Supernatural elements, tied to Zikali’s visions, add a mystical layer, culminating in a tragic and reflective resolution.
The Ancient Allan
The Ancient Allan is a novel published in 1920. Unlike most entries, it blends adventure with fantasy and reincarnation, as Allan Quatermain experiences visions of a past life in ancient Africa. Set primarily in England and a fictional ancient African civilization, the novel explores themes of destiny, memory, and cyclical history, while retaining Haggard’s signature colonial lens. Quatermain, now elderly and living in England, is visited by his friend Lord Ragnall (from The Ivory Child). During a conversation, Quatermain is persuaded to inhale a mystical substance, taduki, which induces vivid visions of a past life. He “becomes” Shabaka, a noble hunter and warrior in an ancient African kingdom resembling pre-dynastic Egypt or a proto-Bantu civilization. In this past life, Shabaka navigates political intrigue, a love triangle with a princess named Amada, and a war against invading forces led by a Persian-like empire. Quatermain’s modern consciousness occasionally surfaces, drawing parallels between his past and present selves. The story alternates between the ancient narrative and Quatermain’s reflections in England, culminating in revelations about fate and identity. The novel serves as a loose sequel to The Ivory Child (1916), revisiting characters like Ragnall and the taduki drug.
She and Allan
She and Allan is a novel published in 1921. It is a crossover between Haggard’s two iconic characters: Allan Quatermain, the rugged adventurer from King Solomon’s Mines, and Ayesha, the immortal queen from She (1887) and its sequels. Set in central Africa, the novel blends adventure, fantasy, and mysticism, exploring themes of mortality, power, and the supernatural through Quatermain’s skeptical lens. Quatermain, now elderly and reflective, is persuaded by a dying friend to undertake a quest to find a mysterious woman in Africa’s interior. Accompanied by his loyal Hottentot servant Hans and a young warrior named Umslopogaas (from Allan Quatermain), Quatermain ventures into uncharted territory. He encounters Ayesha, the immortal “She-who-must-be-obeyed,” who rules the lost city of Kôr and possesses unearthly beauty and wisdom. Ayesha seeks Quatermain’s help to confront a rival sorceress and unravel a prophecy tied to her past love, Kallikrates. The narrative weaves Quatermain’s practical worldview with Ayesha’s mystical allure, leading to battles with hostile tribes, supernatural visions, and revelations about life and death. The story reflects on Quatermain’s mortality against Ayesha’s eternal existence, culminating in a dramatic and bittersweet resolution.
Heu Heu
Heu-Heu, or The Monster is a novel published in 1924. Set in South Africa and a fictional African region, it follows the aging adventurer Allan Quatermain on a quest involving a monstrous legend, a lost tribe, and a volcanic cult. Quatermain, now elderly, narrates a tale from his past, prompted by a request from his friend, the wizard Zikali (from Child of Storm and Finished). Zikali tasks Quatermain and his loyal Hottentot servant Hans with investigating a legend about Heu-Heu, a monstrous, ape-like deity worshipped by a remote tribe near a volcanic lake. The tribe, led by a cruel high priest, practices human sacrifice to appease Heu-Heu, and their raids threaten nearby communities. Quatermain and Hans, joined by a local chief’s son, venture into the wilderness, uncovering a hidden valley and the truth behind the Heu-Heu myth. They face hostile natives, natural disasters, and the tribe’s sinister rituals. Quatermain’s resourcefulness and skepticism drive the mission, leading to a climactic confrontation involving volcanic upheaval and the unraveling of the monster’s mystery.
Treasure of the Lake
Treasure of the Lake is a novel published in 1926. Set in South Africa and a fictional African region, it follows the aging adventurer Allan Quatermain on a quest involving a hidden lake, a lost tribe, and a mystical prophecy. Quatermain, now elderly and contemplative, narrates a tale from his past. He is drawn into an expedition by a mysterious African seer, Kaneke, who promises to reveal the location of a fabled lake surrounded by gold and guarded by the secretive Dabanda tribe. Accompanied by his loyal Hottentot servant Hans and a young Englishman, Robert Blake, Quatermain ventures into uncharted African territory. They encounter the Dabanda, a matriarchal tribe led by a priestess-queen, Kumpana, who worships the lake and its treasures. The group faces dangers including hostile warriors, treacherous landscapes, and internal conflicts, while unraveling a prophecy about a white man’s role in the tribe’s fate. Quatermain’s pragmatism clashes with the tribe’s mysticism, leading to a dramatic climax involving betrayal, sacrifice, and the revelation of the lake’s true “treasure.”
Allan Quatermain and the Ice Gods
Allan and the Ice-Gods is a novel published posthumously in 1927, and the final entry in the Allan Quatermain series. Unlike most Quatermain adventures, it leans heavily into fantasy, using the hallucinogenic taduki drug to transport Quatermain into a vision of his past life during the Ice Age. Based on an idea from Rudyard Kipling, the novel explores themes of survival, leadership, and the clash between superstition and progress, set against a prehistoric backdrop. Quatermain, now elderly and living in England, is reluctant to use the taduki drug again after his intense visions in The Ivory Child and The Ancient Allan. Persuaded by Lady Luna Ragnall’s bequest, he inhales taduki with his friend Captain John Good. Quatermain experiences a past life as Wi, a tribal leader in a Paleolithic community, possibly in Ice Age Scotland, 50,000–500,000 years ago. Wi’s closest ally is Pag, a cunning outcast raised by wolves (an earlier incarnation of Quatermain’s servant Hans). Wi’s wife, Aaka, and son, Foh, anchor his personal life, but his leadership is tested by tribal conflicts and external threats.
Wi kills Henga, a tyrannical chief, and institutes reforms like monogamy and collective decision-making, challenging the tribe’s worship of the “Ice Gods”—a man and mammoth frozen in a glacier. Pag’s innovations, like new weapons, aid Wi’s efforts. The arrival of Laleela, a mysterious woman from a southern land (possibly an incarnation of Luna Ragnall), sparks tension. Wi loves her but refuses to break his monogamy oath, despite pressure to marry her for her protection. The tribe, fearing Laleela as a witch, demands a sacrifice. Wi faces attacks from a saber-toothed tiger, a wolf pack, red-bearded invaders, and an aurochs, showcasing his bravery. When Wi rejects the Ice Gods for Laleela’s faith, the tribe turns against him. As Wi offers himself as a sacrifice, the glacier thaws, destroying the tribe. Wi, Pag, and others flee south but are caught in rapids. Quatermain and Good awaken, debating whether taduki reveals true past lives or ancestral memories.
Hunter Quatermain's Story, A Tale of Three Lions and Long Odds
Three Short Stories published in 1889 also published with Alllan's Wife (described above).
Hunter Quatermain’s Story-Quatermain recounts a harrowing lion hunt in South Africa. While tracking game with a companion, he’s attacked by a lion, leading to a tense struggle for survival.
A Tale of Three Lions (Short Story)-Quatermain narrates an adventure involving a hunt for three lions terrorizing a region. Accompanied by his son Harry and a companion, he faces danger in the African bush. The story includes a comedic subplot about a bumbling character and a tense nighttime encounter with the lions.
Long Odds-Quatermain tells of a solo hunting trip where he’s severely injured by a buffalo and stalked by a lion. Stranded and vulnerable, he relies on his wits to survive. The story emphasizes his resilience and resourcefulness in the face of overwhelming odds. It’s one of Haggard’s darker short stories, focusing on personal struggle rather than grand quests.
Magepa the Buck & The Blue Curtain
Magepa the Buck was a short story published in 1912 forThe Strand Magazine. It was published again later in Smith and the Pharaohs and Other Tales (1920). This story features an older Quatermain recounting a tale of Magepa, a Zulu warrior who outruns danger to save his child during a tribal conflict. Quatermain acts as a narrator and minor participant.
The Blue Curtain, a short story published in 1920, is a lesser-known story, sometimes included in Quatermain collections, where Quatermain reflects on a past adventure involving a mysterious woman and a supernatural encounter in Africa.
Other Charachters
Umbopa/Ignosi:
Umbopa is a native African who joins Allan Quatermain and his party on their quest to find the lost diamond mines of King Solomon. Initially presented as a porter, Umbopa is described as regal, intelligent, and well-spoken, hinting at a deeper significance.
Gagool
Gagool is an ancient, sinister witch-doctor and advisor to King Twala in the Kukuana kingdom. Described as shriveled, cunning, and malevolent, Gagool wields significant influence through her knowledge of tribal lore and prophecy.
Captain John Good and Sir Henry Curtis
Captain John Good, often referred to as "Good," is a retired naval officer and friend of Sir Henry Curtis who joins the expedition to find Curtis’s brother and the legendary diamond mines. Good is depicted as meticulous, slightly comical (especially with his monocle and grooming habits), and resourceful, providing a lighter contrast to the group’s more serious members like Allan Quatermain and Curtis.
Sir Henry Curtis is a wealthy, physically imposing English gentleman who hires Allan Quatermain to lead an expedition into uncharted African territory to find his missing brother, George, and the fabled diamond mines of King Solomon. Described as brave, honorable, and somewhat idealized, Curtis embodies the Victorian adventurer archetype.
