Chapter 75: 733-743

Page 733

Mr. C. Dicey's County Atlas
Cluer Dicey, see this LINK.

Carp
Carp is a common name for various species of an oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. Some consider all cyprinid fishes carp, and the family Cyprinidae itself is often known as the carp family. In colloquial use, however, carp usually refers only to several larger cyprinid species such as Cyprinus carpio (common carp), Carassius carassius (Crucian carp), Ctenopharyngodon idella (grass carp), Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (silver carp), and Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (bighead carp). From WIKI

Dace
Leuciscus is a genus of fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae. They are commonly called Eurasian daces; familiar species include the Common Dace and Ide. The genus is widespread form Europe to Siberia. From WIKI

Page 739

"[T]he Earth's Surface [...] began to curve sharply inward, leaving a great circum-polar Emptiness [...] toward which our path was taking us [...] And 'twas so that we enter'd, by its great northern Portal, upon the inner Surface of the Earth."

Thus, Dixon relates to Mason his journey into Hollow Earth, guided by what seems to be an extraterrestrial being. See p.548.

Page 741

"to go anywhere is ever to descend."

The partially italicized word might be a reference, or at least could've been influenced by Richard Farina, who used partially italicized words quite often in 'Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me.'