NATAL: A HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE COLONY:

First Edition: 336 pages, 16 pages publisher's catalogue, folding map, plan, chromolithographic frontispiece, 5 chromolithographic plates of plants, 8 plates which are mounted photographs, original brown cloth, some pages unopened, a very good copy.

Mendelssohn (Sidney) South African Bibliography, volume 1, page 196, 'The contents comprise chapters on the geographical position and character of the country, its geological formation, climate, wild animal life, indigenous vegetable productions, early history, British colonisation and growth of the Zulu power; and the descriptions of the flora and fauna, together with the beautiful coloured lithographs of Natal flowers and shrubs, taken from the author's original paintings, show him to have been a competent naturalist and botanist, as well as an artist of no mean ability. The work is further illustrated by a number of photographs, and there is a map of the colony, and a chart showing the harbour of Durban and the surrounding country.

S2A3 Biographical Database of Southern African Science (https://www.s2a3.org.za/bio/Biograph_final.php?serial=375)
'Henry Brooks lived in Natal for many years. While residing at Wartburg he wrote a book about the colony entitled Natal: A history and description of the colony, including its natural features, productions, industrial condition and prospects (London 1876). The book was edited for publication by Robert J. Mann, formerly superintendent of education of Natal, who was living in England at the time. It included notes on the geographical position and character of the colony; its geology (pp. 25-58); climate, including monthly rainfall, monthly mean temperature and mean atmospheric pressure for the period 1858-1867 (pp. 59-105); wild animals (pp. 106-165); indigenous vegetable products, including a list of 120 fern species (pp. 166-190); early and recent history; and the rise of Zulu power. It was illustrated with coloured lithographs of flowers and shrubs based on the author's own paintings, which show him to have been a competent naturalist and artist. It also included a map of the colony and a chart of Durban harbour and surroundings. A second edition, with Brooks and R.J. Mann as authors, was published in 1895.'