The Zingari

Cowen therefore approached the large and established printing house of Saul Solomon, the owner of the mainstream Cape Argus newspaper.

Solomon permitted the use of his printing house though, as a liberal MP himself, he was often the main figure attacked by the Zingari in its sketches and columns.

It was one of the few publications which opposed the movement for "Responsible Government" (locally elected democracy) which it accused of being "crafts and assaults of the devil" which would bring about a "great conflagration".

[1] When the movement's leader came to power in 1872, the Zingari became one of the most extreme voices of opposition against the local government, and in favour of a stronger British imperial presence in southern Africa.

Each edition featured a portrait and biography at the back, beginning in June 1871 with the leader of the House of Assembly John Molteno.