128 POINT TORMENT. 



opportunely lying along the eastern shore, which 

 we reached soon after noon, and landed on the 

 only beach of sand hereabouts left uncovered at 

 high water. Here, for better security against the 

 squalls we had experienced for the last two nights, 

 we hauled up the boats. A name was soon found 

 for our new territory, upon which we with rueful 

 unanimity conferred that of Point Torment, from 

 the incessant and vindictive attacks of swarms of 

 musquitos, by whom it had evidently been resolved 

 to give the new comers a warm welcome. The 

 greater part of Point Torment is deeply inter- 

 sected with deep narrow creeks, and is almost 

 entirely flooded at high water : it extends low and 

 swampy for nearly three miles in breadth, and then 

 rises gradually, the slope being well wooded with 

 the white Eucalypti. Here also I remarked the 

 gouty stem tree, figured by Captain Grey, and 

 described by Captain King, as of the Nat. Ord. 

 Capparides, and thought to be a Capparis ; it also 

 bears a resemblance to the Adansonia described in 

 Captain Tuckey's Congo. This was but a small 

 specimen in fruit, of which the following brief 

 description may convey a tolerably clear idea. In 

 shape it something resembled the cocoa nut, with a 

 gourd-like outside, of a brown and yellow colour. 

 Its length was five inches, and diameter three. 

 The shell was exceedingly thin a,nd when opened 

 it was found to be full of seeds, imbedded in a 

 whitish pulp, and of a not ungrateful taste. 



This place, lat. 17° 5' S., may be considered the 



