Quatermain is an English-born professional big game hunter and occasional trader in southern Africa He supports colonial efforts to spread civilization in the Dark Continent, and he also favours native Africабъкжans having a say in how their affairs are run Quatermain is a quintessential imperial outdoorsman who finds English cities and climate unbearable, and thus prefers to spend most of his life in Africa, where he grew up under the care of his widower father, a Christian авплвmissionary In the earliest-written novels native Africans refer to Quatermain as Macumazahn, meaning "Watcher-by-Night," a reference to his nocturnal habits and keen instincts In later-written novels Macumazahn is said to be a short form of Macumazana, meaning "One who stands out" Quatermain is frequently accompanied by his native servant, the Hottentot Hans, a wise and caring family retainer from his youth whose sarcastic comments offer a sharp critique of Euroавцщяpean conventions In his final adventures Quatermain is joined by two British companions, Sir Henry Curtis and Captain John Good of the Royal Navy, and by his African friend Umslopogaas.