MD3PAD 475-477

[Toby G Levy]

        Mason and Dixon discuss the book that Maskelyne sent them,
despairing over the way the terrain can affect their instrument
readings. Mason hopes that the Western side of the Allegheny mountains
will be less upsetting than the windward side of St Helena.

        Chapter 49 begins on page 476.  The area to the west of the
Susquehanna river is inhabited and peaceful.  They have to make a small
correction to their direction, moving northward one RPH (red pubic hair,
defined back on page 296).

        There is so much iron in the soil in this area that it is
thought that running a magnet over a tilled field, the vegetables would
leap out of the ground and stick to the magnet.

        The line moves west without difficulty, and summer arrives,
bringing millions of fireflies, which Dixon would like to harness and
light the campsite with.

        Many people follow the crew as they move west, including the
crystal reader and a musical group named the Vasquez Brothers Marimba
Quartet. They play back up music for the performances of the electric
eel.  They play a song that is considered the "anthem" of the
expedition, entitled "Pepinazos" The song is in Spanish in the book, and
the Mason and Dixon Alpha translates it as follows: "Blows, never/Hugs,
if you/Loved me, (here hyperarts leaves out the words Si De Veras which I
believe means 'if it is true')/ Listen to me/ Leave, the blows!"

Toby