1869.

This rare work, a satire on life in Natal under Lieutenant Governor R. W. Keate (1867-1872), first appeared in instalments in the Natal Witness, beginning in July 1869. Later it was published by the Pietermaritzburg firm of Keith & Co. in a paper-bound volume of 132 pages, the full title being The Four Books of the Prophet Ignoramus, being the Chronicle of the Reign of Er Keet in Ophir, by 'Eureka'.

The Natal Society Library and the Natal Archives both have copies of this edition. But such deliciously scurrilous writing was bound to be in great demand. It also appeared in another format.

It is this that interests Mrs. Spencer, who writes: The first and second Books also appeared in pamphlet form in 1869. Both were published in Maritzburg, the first by Keith & Co. and the other by Peter Davis & Sons. The Natal Society Library has a copy of the former and I have a defective copy of the latter.

R3,500