Not P but Moby-Dick (52)

[Mike Jing]

As in a footnote, I should add.


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
>>>>
>>>