# Captain John Good — King Solomon’s Mines character guide > Captain John Good in King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Captain Good, Good, Bougwan, John Good **First appearance:** 0004-i-i-meet-sir-henry-curtis ## Snapshot A retired naval officer with a monocle, a taste for bad puns, and a surprising talent for navigating both ships and desert treks. ## Who they are Captain Good brings naval discipline, a sextant, and a monocle to a journey that has no business needing any of them, and his running jokes about "Unlimited Loo" keep the party's spirits afloat. His vanity about his appearance—especially his false teeth and eyeglass—becomes a running source of comedy and, later, an unexpected diplomatic asset. He is the practical navigator of the trio, the one who turns Quatermain's instincts and Curtis's resolve into an actual route across the desert and mountains. ## In the story ### [King Solomon's Mines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/king-solomon-s-mines) Naval officer and friend of Curtis; joins the expedition. ### [I Meet Sir Henry Curtis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/i-i-meet-sir-henry-curtis) A stout, dark naval officer traveling with Sir Henry, who joins the conversation and shows a quick, inquisitive manner. ### [II: The Legend of Solomon’s Mines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/ii-the-legend-of-solomon-s-mines) Present during the recounting of the legend and supports Sir Henry's proposal. ### [III: Umbopa Enters Our Service](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/iii-umbopa-enters-our-service) Accompanies the expedition; comments on the pair made by Sir Henry and Umbopa. ### [IV: An Elephant Hunt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/iv-an-elephant-hunt) Nearly killed by the wounded elephant; saved by Khiva's sacrifice; his civilized dress causes him to slip during the chase. ### [Our March Into the Desert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/v-our-march-into-the-desert) Mentioned as supervising camp arrangements; part of the five-man expedition team. ### [VI: Water! Water!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/vi-water-water) Dismisses the idea of water on a hilltop; later eats a melon with his false teeth. ### [VII: Solomon's Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/vii-solomon-s-road) Identifies the corpse as José da Silvestra; argues about keeping his trousers; is forced to remain in flannel shirt, boots, and eyeglass to maintain the group's mystique. ### [VIII: We Enter Kukuanaland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/viii-we-enter-kukuanaland) Tramps along sullenly, preoccupied with his flannel shirt flapping in the breeze. ### [IX: Twala the King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/ix-twala-the-king) Accompanies the party; comments on the possibility of George Curtis reaching Kukuanaland. ### [X: The Witch-Hunt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/x-the-witch-hunt) Present during the witch-hunt; comments on the silence of the army and later compares Twala to Madame Defarge. ### [XI: We Give a Sign](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/xi-we-give-a-sign) Shows indignation at the planned sacrifice; protects Foulata when she clings to him; discovers the lunar eclipse in his almanac and proposes it as the sign. ### [Before the Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/xii-before-the-battle) Prepares for battle in his mail shirt and corduroys, retaining his eyeglass and partially shaved face. ### [The Attack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/xiii-the-attack) Tends to Quatermain after his injury; assigned to lead the right flanking horn; bids emotional farewells. ### [XIV: The Last Stand of the Greys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/xiv-the-last-stand-of-the-greys) Recovers from a faint and cheers Sir Henry on during the duel. ### [Good Falls Sick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/xv-good-falls-sick) Has a hole through his leg and a high fever; becomes delirious and spits blood due to internal injury; tends to his own and Sir Henry's wounds. ### [XVI: The Place of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/xvi-the-place-of-death) Part of the expedition; notes the anatomical perfection of the skeleton statue. ### [XVII: Solomon’s Treasure Chamber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/xvii-solomon-s-treasure-chamber) First to follow Gagool into the passage; lifts the goatskin bag and whispers it is full of diamonds; comments on flooding the market. ### [XVIII: We Abandon Hope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/xviii-we-abandon-hope) Perseveres in searching for a draft, discovers the hollow floor, and uses his knife and handkerchief to help lift the ring. ### [XIX: Ignosi's Farewell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/xix-ignosi-s-farewell) Addressed as Bougwan; mourns Foulata's death; part of the farewell. ### [Found](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/chapters/xx-found) Present at the discovery of George Curtis; later described as a 'swell' in England. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/characters/captain_good - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_solomon_s_mines_se/characters