MDDM Ch. 70 Interdiction

[Terrance]

jbor wrote:
> 
> Yes, I'd agree it's pretty short-sighted. But I don't think he means it in a
> negative way. Dixon likes to imbibe, thinks nothing of it. Apparently the
> Native Americans also like to drink ("Heaven help us if we run out of
> Whiskey" 673-4), he enjoys their company ("all this mix'd Society" 674.14)
> and so he sees no harm. We know better, of course, but Dixon doesn't. Just
> like Mason, who can't get outside of his own subjective point of view and
> comprehend that the Native Americans do not see this almighty gash
> encroaching through their lands in the same way that he does, as some benign
> and dispassionately scientific[k] endeavour, Dixon can't understand that his
> natural gregariousness and generosity will not endear him to nor assure his
> safety amongst the tribes either.


Right on. I applied the "we know better" historical POV (which can be a
sort of hyperopia) to Dixon's statement. 


> 
> I'm not sure about the significance of the relationship between the Lambton
> Worm story (an actual legend) and the way the Line is described in Ch. 70
> either, but I do think that connection is being made.
> 
> I'd say Chas is reinterpreting Dixon's comments to fit into his own
> Christian, rationalist schema. I think Dixon is more inclined than Mason to
> empathise with non-Christian and supernatural points of view: the Native
> Americans seeing it as a "great invisible Thing that comes crawling straight
> over their Lands, devouring all in its Path" (just like the Lambton Worm),
> and Captain Zhang's *Sha*, "that Current strong as a River's" (679.4).

Why **invisible** Thing? The Lambton worm is not invisible either. 

Where does Dixon get the idea from? Invisible?