Narrative Summary of The Ivory Trail

Overview:

I am part of a group of four men, including an Earl and a former American Merchant, who are searching for a hidden hoard of ivory buried by the infamous Tippoo Tib. We initially learn of this treasure from a one-eyed lazaretto attendant in Zanzibar, who tells us that the British government has been unable to find it, but that they will reward anyone who can. After a series of encounters with other adventurers seeking the ivory, including a cunning woman who seems to know the secret, we are thwarted by the suspicious British colonial government, who refuse to grant us permits for firearms and ammunition. We then encounter a renowned hunter, Courtney, who tells us more about the ivory and its possible locations, and warns us about the dangers of the German government, who are also searching for the treasure. Despite the obstacles and dangers, we are determined to find the ivory and claim the reward.

Main Parts:

Zanzibar: The story begins in Zanzibar, where the adventurers hear the rumor of Tippoo Tib’s buried ivory from a former slave. They are quarantined due to a cholera outbreak, and during this time they learn more about the hoard and the various people searching for it.
Mombasa: After leaving Zanzibar, the adventurers face bureaucratic hurdles and suspicion from the British colonial government in Mombasa, who refuse to grant them permits for firearms and ammunition. They meet an experienced hunter who provides valuable insights and warns them about the German government’s involvement.
The Journey to Lumbwa: The adventurers travel from Mombasa to Lumbwa in British East Africa, encountering a variety of obstacles and characters, including a drunkard settler, a scheming Greek, and Lady Saffren Waldon, a woman who claims to know the secret of the ivory. They are pursued by the Germans and Lady Waldon, who are both determined to prevent them from finding the treasure.
The German Encounter: The adventurers reach German East Africa and are imprisoned by the German authorities, who believe they are in league with Lady Waldon and seeking the ivory. They face a brutal flogging, endure a series of trials, and are ultimately forced to escape with the help of Lady Waldon.
The Chase for Ivory: The adventurers escape Muanza and make their way to Mount Elgon, following a trail of clues provided by Courtney and Lady Waldon. They encounter a fierce battle with Masai raiders, and are nearly caught by Schillingschen, a German scholar who is also in pursuit of the ivory.
Elgon: The adventurers reach the base of Mount Elgon, a place where, according to legend, Tippoo Tib buried much of his ivory. They encounter a tribe of cannibals who are guarding the place, but ultimately overcome them and discover a vast cavern, potentially containing the treasure.
The Envoi: The adventurers discover that much of the ivory is ruined, but they still manage to gather a considerable quantity. They return to British East Africa and are ultimately rewarded for their efforts.

View on Life:

Monty: Monty, the Earl, is a seasoned adventurer who believes in playing the game according to the rules, even if it means enduring hardships. He prioritizes his personal honor and the well-being of his friends above all else.
Fred Oakes: Fred is a passionate and impulsive adventurer who embraces every challenge with enthusiasm and a sense of humor. He enjoys the game, but also values loyalty and friendship.
Will Yerkes: Will is a pragmatic and resourceful American who believes in outsmarting his opponents and exploiting opportunities. He is less sentimental than Fred, but he values fair play.
Lady Saffren Waldon: Lady Waldon is a ruthless, ambitious, and cunning woman who uses her intelligence, charm, and connections to gain power. She is driven by a desire for revenge and a willingness to betray anyone to achieve her goals.
Georges Coutlass: Coutlass is a bold, daring, and opportunistic adventurer who is willing to break laws and betray anyone to get what he wants. He is driven by greed, a love of excitement, and a deep resentment of authority.

Scenarios:

Quarantine in Zanzibar: The adventurers are trapped in a lazaretto due to a cholera outbreak, providing a period of time for them to learn more about the ivory hoard and the people seeking it.
The Confrontation with Lady Waldon: Lady Waldon uses her influence to intimidate the adventurers and pressure them into accepting her deal.
The Struggle with the British Government: The adventurers face bureaucratic obstacles and suspicion from the British colonial government, who are reluctant to provide them with permits for firearms and ammunition.
The German Prison: The adventurers are imprisoned by the Germans, who accuse them of being ivory hunters and spies. They endure a brutal flogging and are subjected to a series of trials.
The Masai Raid: The adventurers encounter a Masai raid on a settlement and find themselves in the middle of a battle. They must decide whether to help the raiders or the settlers.
The Search for the Ivory: The adventurers, along with Lady Waldon and Coutlass, journey to Mount Elgon to find the hidden ivory. They encounter treacherous terrain, wild animals, and a hostile German government.
The Hunt for Schillingschen: The adventurers are pursued by a rogue German scholar, Schillingschen, who is also seeking the ivory and trying to sabotage their efforts.

Challenges:

Bureaucracy: The adventurers face multiple bureaucratic obstacles from both the British and German colonial governments.
Intrigue: They are constantly being deceived, manipulated, and betrayed by other adventurers and authorities.
Danger: They are confronted by wild animals, hostile tribes, and treacherous terrain.
Suspicion: They are constantly being watched and suspected of being spies or criminals.

Conflict:

The adventurers are in conflict with the German government, who are seeking the ivory and attempting to exploit the African people.
They are in conflict with other adventurers, who are also seeking the ivory and are willing to betray each other.
The adventurers are in conflict with the natural environment of Africa, which is full of dangers and challenges.

Plot:

The story follows the adventurers’ journey to find Tippoo Tib’s hidden ivory. They start in Zanzibar, where they hear the rumor of the treasure, and then journey to Mombasa, where they encounter the first obstacles. They eventually travel to Mount Elgon, following clues and battling both the environment and other adventurers. They encounter German officials, who are actively seeking the treasure, and are forced to escape from prison. After many trials and tribulations, they finally locate the ivory and face a final confrontation with Schillingschen.

Key Milestones:

The adventurers learn about Tippoo Tib’s ivory in Zanzibar.
They are imprisoned by the German government in Muanza.
They escape from Muanza and continue their journey to Mount Elgon.
They encounter Schillingschen and Lady Waldon, who are both seeking the ivory.
They are attacked by Masai raiders and nearly captured by Schillingschen.
They encounter a tribe of cannibals guarding the ivory hoard.
They discover the ivory, but much of it is ruined.
They successfully escape from the Germans and return to British East Africa.

Point of View:

The story is told from the perspective of a nameless narrator who is one of the four adventurers. This point of view allows the reader to experience the journey firsthand and to get a sense of the adventurers’ thoughts and feelings.

How It’s Written:

The novel is written in a lively and engaging style, with a strong sense of adventure. The author uses vivid descriptions of the African landscape and its people to create a sense of realism. He also uses dialogue to develop the characters and to move the story along. An example of this style is the description of the first encounter with the cannibals:

“We rounded the northeastern hump of the mountain in a bitter wind, and spied half a hundred naked men and women, thinner than wraiths, who scampered off at sight of us and volleyed ridiculous arrows from a cave-mouth. The arrows fell about midway between us and them, but threw Hassan into a paroxysm of fear, out of which it was difficult to shake him.”

Tone:

The tone of the novel is adventurous, humorous, and often satirical. The author uses a lighthearted and witty tone to describe the adventurers’ exploits, but he also highlights the dangers and complexities of the African landscape and its people.

Life Choices:

The adventurers choose to pursue the ivory treasure despite the dangers and challenges they face.
They choose to trust Lady Saffren Waldon and Georges Coutlass, despite their known history of treachery.
They choose to defy the authority of the British and German colonial governments.

Lessons:

The importance of trust and loyalty: The adventurers learn the value of trusting their friends and staying loyal to their cause, even when faced with adversity.
The importance of courage and determination: The adventurers demonstrate courage and determination in the face of danger and obstacles.
The dangers of greed and ambition: The characters in the novel are often driven by greed and ambition, which lead to betrayal, violence, and destruction.
The importance of understanding the culture and people of a new place: The adventurers learn that they must understand and respect the cultures and people of the places they visit, or else they will make many mistakes.

Characters:

Monty: An Earl and seasoned adventurer, Monty is the leader of the group. He is intelligent, resourceful, and honorable.
Fred Oakes: Fred is a jovial and impulsive American adventurer with a passion for adventure and a fondness for music.
Will Yerkes: Will is a resourceful and clever American merchant with a pragmatic approach to life.
Narrator: The nameless narrator is a less prominent adventurer who provides a unique perspective on the journey.
Lady Saffren Waldon: A cunning and ruthless woman with a complex past, Lady Waldon is a master of deception and intrigue.
Georges Coutlass: A reckless and opportunistic Greek adventurer, Coutlass is driven by greed and excitement.
Brown of Lumbwa: A good-natured but often drunk settler, Brown is loyal to his friends, but can be impulsive and easily manipulated.
Kazimoto: A skilled gun-bearer and former servant of Courtney, Kazimoto is loyal, resourceful, and a valuable asset to the adventurers.

Themes:

The dangers of colonialism and imperialism: The novel highlights the destructive nature of colonialism and the exploitation of the African people by European powers.
The allure of adventure and exploration: The novel captures the spirit of adventure and exploration, as the characters seek to uncover a hidden treasure and experience the unknown.
The power of greed and ambition: The novel demonstrates how greed and ambition can lead to betrayal and destruction.
The importance of loyalty and friendship: The novel shows the importance of loyalty and friendship in the face of adversity.

Principles:

Honesty and integrity are essential for success: The adventurers often find themselves in difficult situations because of the deceit and treachery of others. However, their own honesty and integrity ultimately lead to their success.
Respect for different cultures and peoples: The adventurers learn that they must respect the cultures and people of the places they visit, or else they will face consequences.

Intentions:

The adventurers: The adventurers are driven by greed, ambition, and a desire for adventure. They want to find the ivory treasure and claim the reward.
Schillingschen: Schillingschen is driven by a desire for power and wealth. He seeks the ivory treasure to fund the German government’s plan to conquer Africa.
Lady Waldon: Lady Waldon is driven by a desire for revenge and a need to escape from the German government. She is willing to betray anyone to achieve her goals.
Tippoo Tib: Tippoo Tib is driven by greed and a desire to protect his wealth.

Unique Vocabulary:

“Bado kidogo” – means “presently,” “bye and bye,” “in a little while.”
“Wachenzie” – means “man from ‘way back,'” “rube,” “simp.”

Anecdotes:

The story of Juma’s toe-nails: Juma, the one-eyed lazaretto attendant, tells the story of how he was tortured by a German who believed he knew the secret of Tippoo Tib’s ivory. This story highlights the brutality of the German colonial regime.
The story of Brown’s cattle: Brown tells the story of how his cattle were stolen by Coutlass and then raided by the Masai. This story highlights the lawlessness and violence of Africa.

Ideas:

The dangers of ambition and greed: The novel explores the destructive nature of greed and ambition, showing how they can lead to betrayal, violence, and destruction.
The importance of honesty and integrity: The adventurers are often forced to make difficult choices, but they ultimately strive to maintain their honesty and integrity.
The complexities of colonialism and imperialism: The novel highlights the complexities of colonialism and imperialism, showing how European powers exploited the African people and disrupted their cultures.

Facts and Findings:

Tippoo Tib was a notorious ivory trader and slave trader who operated in East Africa.
The German government was actively seeking to exploit Africa’s resources and expand its colonial empire.
The British government was also involved in colonial expansion in East Africa, but its methods were generally more humane and less exploitative than those of the Germans.
The African people were often caught in the middle of these power struggles and were exploited and abused by both colonial powers.

Statistics:

The adventurers find a vast quantity of ivory, but much of it is ruined.
The German government was willing to give up a significant amount of territory in exchange for control of the ivory hoard.
The Masai raided cattle across the British and German borders, demonstrating the power and influence of this tribe.

Points of view:

The novel is written from the point of view of one of the four adventurers. This perspective allows the reader to see the journey firsthand and to understand the adventurers’ thoughts and feelings. The narrator’s perspective is also shaped by his own biases and experiences, which adds another layer to the story.

Perspective:

The novel offers a critical perspective on colonialism and imperialism, highlighting the exploitation and abuse of the African people. It also provides a glimpse into the complex relationships between the British and German colonial governments, as well as the various adventurers and other individuals who are trying to find the ivory hoard. The novel also offers a perspective on the dangers and challenges of navigating the African landscape and its people.

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