In Search of King Solomon's Mines

For more than a century Henry Rider Haggard''s novel King Solomon''s Mines has inspired generations of young men to set forth in search of adventure. But long before Rider Haggard''s classic, explorers, theologians and scientists scoured the known world for the source of Solomon''s astonishing wealth.

The Bible''s wisest king built a temple at Jerusalem that was said to be more fabulous than any other landmark in the ancient world. Adorned with an abundance of gold, it was said to be gleaned from a mysterious land known as ''Ophir''.

Taking his leads from a mixture of texts including the Septuagint, the earliest known form of the Bible, as well as using geological, geographical and folkloric sources, Tahir Shah sets out in search for Solomon''s gold mines. For him the obvious place to look is Ethiopia, the ancient and enigmatic realm nestled in the horn of Africa.

The ensuing journey takes Shah to a remote cliff-face monastery whe