... as India itself might, could it be viewed ...

[constantinusphilo]

...and the day generally, whose rough desiccated surface acquired as it receded a definite outline, as India itself might, could it be viewed from the moon.
A Passage to India by E.M. Forster

If this is a past unreal condition, should it not be 'might have', 'could have?'

 

[5jj]

as India itself might, could it be viewed from the moon.
A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
If this is a past unreal condition,

It isn't. It's a general-time hypothetical condition.

 

[Amigos4]

...and the day generally, whose rough desiccated surface acquired as it receded a definite outline, as India itself might, could it be viewed from the moon.

Don't we need a question mark after "moon"?

 

[emsr2d2]

Don't we need a question mark after "moon"?

I doubt it but the complete sentence would make it clear. @constantinusphilo Please provide the entire sentence.

 

[Amigos4]

Since I asked the punctuation question, I am posting the complete sentence found in Chapter VIII of A Passage to India by E.M. Forster.

Mrs. Moore continued to murmur “Red ten on a black knave,” Miss Quested to assist her, and to intersperse among the intricacies of the play details about the hyena, the engagement, the Maharani of Mudkul, the Bhattacharyas, and the day generally, whose rough desiccated surface acquired as it receded a definite outline, as India itself might, could it be viewed from the moon.

What an awful sentence to analyze (and understand)! As written, why isn't there a question mark after the word "moon"?

 

[emsr2d2]

I agree that it's a bit of a nightmare to analyse but I've finally worked it out and no question mark is required. Here's my attempt to write a simplified version (the end part, at least):

... the day (as it came to an end) acquired a definite outline, in the same way that India might, if it could be viewed from the moon.

 

[Amigos4]

Nicely done, @emsr2d2 . I like your version better than the original.

I am so happy that E. M. Forster never appeared on my summer reading lists!

 

[constantinusphilo]

So, is it a present unreal or a past unreal?

 

[5jj]

General time.