I suppose they--the flights and flourishes--are desirable, and I regret not being able to supply them; but at the same time I cannot help thinking that simple things are always the most impressive, and that books are easier to understand when they are written in plain language, though perhaps I have no right to set up an opinion on such a matter.

"A sharp spear," runs the Kukuana saying, "needs no polish"; and on the same principle I venture to hope that a true story, however strange it may be, does not require to be decked out in fine words.
Allan Quatermain.
[1] I discovered eight varieties of antelope, with which I was previously totally unacquainted, and many new species of plants, for the most part of the bulbous tribe .-- A.Q.
CONTENTS 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 KING SOLOMON'S MINES.