There was a fat man of Bombay is included in Edward Lear's Book of Nonsense. Edward Lear's work with limericks proved to be extremely popular in the nineteenth century and this was contributed to by the humorous magazine Punch which started printing examples of limericks leading to a craze by its readers. The first edition of Edward Lear's Book of Nonsense was published by Thomas McLean on 10th February 1846. There were altogether seventy-two limericks in two volumes which sold at 3s 6d each. For comprehensive information regarding Limericks we would strongly recommend the following website http://www.famousliteraryworks.com/limericks.htm

There was a Fat Man of Bombay
Nursery Rhyme lyrics, origins and history

There was a fat man of Bombay,
Who was smoking one sunshiny day,
When a bird called a Snipe
Flew away with his pipe,
Which vexed the fat man of Bombay

There was a Fat Man of Bombay
Nursery Rhyme lyrics, origins and history