Not P but Moby-Dick (52)

[Mark Kohut]

turns out mica can be minute scales with a layered structure...

a shiny silicate mineral with a layered structure, found as minute scales
in granite and other rocks, or as crystals. It is used as a thermal or
electrical insulator.

On Sun, Dec 10, 2023 at 12:21 PM David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:

> ⬇️ They translated it to THIS? ⬇️
>
> “you may scrape off with your hand [from the body of a dead whale] an
> infinitely thin, transparent substance, somewhat resembling the thinnest
> shreds of [MICA]”
>
> Mica??? From the body of a dead whale???
>
> On Sun, Dec 10, 2023 at 12:14 PM Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> By the way, both the Norton Critical Edition and Melville Electronic
>> Library took it to be mica.
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Dec 10, 2023 at 9:41 AM Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > OK. All five previous translations I have at hand took the second one,
>> so
>> > I thought I'd ask just to be sure. Thanks, Mark.
>> >
>> >
>> > On Sun, Dec 10, 2023 at 6:01 AM Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> >> definition 1....
>> >>
>> >> On Sat, Dec 9, 2023 at 11:12 PM Mike Jing <
>> gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
>> >> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> From Chapter 68:
>> >>>
>> >>> True, from the unmarred dead body of the whale, you may scrape off
>> with
>> >>> your hand an infinitely thin, transparent substance, somewhat
>> resembling
>> >>> the thinnest shreds of isinglass, only it is almost as flexible and
>> soft
>> >>> as
>> >>> satin; that is, previous to being dried, when it not only contracts
>> and
>> >>> thickens, but becomes rather hard and brittle.
>> >>>
>> >>> What does "isinglass" refer to here?
>> >>>
>> >>> 1. A firm whitish semitransparent substance (being a comparatively
>> pure
>> >>> form of gelatin) obtained from the sounds or air-bladders of some
>> >>> freshwater fishes, esp. the sturgeon; used in cookery for making
>> jellies,
>> >>> etc., also for clarifying liquors, in the manufacture of glue, and for
>> >>> other purposes. Also extended to similar substances made from hides,
>> >>> hoofs,
>> >>> etc.
>> >>>
>> >>> 2. A name given to mica, from its resembling in appearance some kinds
>> of
>> >>> isinglass.
>> >>> --
>> >>> Pynchon-L: https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/pynchon-l
>> >>>
>> >>
>> --
>> Pynchon-L: https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/pynchon-l
>>
>