He had bought a large map representing the sea, /
Without the least vestige of land: /
And the crew were much pleased when they found it to be /
A map they could all understand.
“What’s the good of Mercator’s North Poles and Equators, /
Tropics, Zones, and Meridian Lines?” /
So the Bellman would cry: and the crew would reply /
“They are merely conventional signs!
“Other maps are such shapes, with their islands and capes! /
But we’ve got our brave Captain to thank: /
(So the crew would protest) “that he’s bought us the best— /
A perfect and absolute blank!”
-Lewis Carroll, The Hunting of the snark