M&D: "We reverse our Sectors"

[Smoke Teff]

p. 121



“’Tis said of the French Astronomers, that they never turn their
Instruments, be it out of Pride or Insouciance or some French
Sentiment we don’t possess, whilst what seems to distinguish us out
here, is that we do. We reverse our Sectors, we measure ev’rything in
both Directions[…]’Tis the British Way, to take the extra step that
may one day give us an Edge when we need one, probably against the
French. Small Investment, large Reward. I regard myself as a
practitioner of British Science now.’”



This fits in with my general notions of how the British understand
their taxonomickal differences from the French. I don’t know if this
reflects actual contemporary scientifick practice. Also don’t exactly
feel like I have a firm handle on how this instrument reversal fits
into any of the thematic schemata running through the novel. The
underbelly/subequator stuff involves reflection and translation—but
reversal?

I believe reversals are important in the tarot?

Can anybody else shed a little light on this passage, what P is doing,
through Dixon?
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Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l