Final answer:
The speaker says the passengers 'exceeded my curiosity in the King Solomon's mines' indicating their stories or experiences were more astonishing and engaging than what the speaker had envisioned, akin to the extraordinary adventures in the adventure novel King Solomon's Mines.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase 'they exceeded my curiosity in the King Solomon's mines' suggests that the speaker encountered something astonishing, exceeding their already eager desire for new and novel experiences. Considering that King Solomon's Mines is an adventure novel that involves hidden treasures and undiscovered lands, it represents the idea of the greatest adventure or discovery one can imagine. Thus, the speaker implies that the travelers' tales or the experiences they shared were remarkably engaging and beyond what the speaker's curiosity could have anticipated, much like the incredible adventures detailed in that famous novel. The passages provided speak to the themes of adventure, exploration, and the unexpected encounters that spur curiosity and wonder in both the characters and readers.