"The gouty-stem tree . . . bears a very fragrant white flower, not unlike the jasmine." [Illustration given at p. 116.]
1865. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `History of the Discovery and Exploration of Australia,' vol. i. p. 2S9 [Note]:
"This tree is distinguished by the extraordinary swollen appearance of the stem, which looks as though the tree were diseased or the result of a freak of nature. The youngest as well as the oldest trees have the same deformed appearance, and inside the bark is a soft juicy pulp instead of wood, which is said to be serviceable as an article of food. The stem of the largest tree at Careening Bay was twenty-nine feet in girth; it is named the <i>Adansonia digitata</i>. A species is found in Africa. In Australia it occurs only on the north coast."
<hw>Government</hw>, <i>n.</i> a not unusual contraction of "Government service," used by contractors and working men.
<hw>Government men</hw>, <i>n.</i> an obsolete euphemistic name for convicts, especially for assigned servants (q.v.).
1846. G. H. Haydon, `Five Years in Australia Felix,' p. 122:
"Three government men or convicts."
1852. J. West, `History of Tasmania,' vol. ii. p. 127:
"Government men, as assigned servants were called."
<hw>Government stroke</hw>, <i>n.</i> a lazy style of doing work, explained in quotations. The phrase is not dead.