Mardi and a Voyage Thither

by Herman Melville

Overview

Presented as narratives of his own South Sea experiences, Melville's first two books had roused incredulity in many readers. Their disbelief, he declared, had been "the main inducement" in altering his plan for his third book, Mardi: and a Voyage Thither (1849). Melville wanted to exploit the "rich poetical material" of Polynesia and also to escape feeling "irked, cramped, & fettered" by a narrative of facts. "I began to feel . . . a longing to plume my pinions for a flight," he told his English publisher.

This scholarly edition aims to present a text as close to the author's intention as surviving evidence permits. Based on collations of all editions publishing during Melville's lifetime, it incorporates author corrections and many emendations made by the present editors. This edition of Mardi is an Approved Text of the Center for Editions of American Authors (Modern Language Association of America).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781605013381
Publisher:	MobileReference
Publication date:	01/01/2010
Series:	Mobi Classics
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	621 KB

About the Author

Herman Melville (August 1, 1819 - September 28, 1891) was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick. His first three books gained much contemporary attention (the first, Typee, becoming a bestseller), and after a fast-blooming literary success in the late 1840s, his popularity declined precipitously in the mid-1850s and never recovered during his lifetime. When he died in 1891, he was almost completely forgotten. It was not until the "Melville Revival" in the early twentieth century that his work won recognition, especially Moby-Dick, which was hailed as one of the literary masterpieces of both American and world literature. He was the first writer to have his works collected and published by the Library of America.

Date of Birth:

August 1, 1819

Date of Death:

September 28, 1891

Place of Birth:

New York, New York

Place of Death:

New York, New York

Education:

Attended the Albany Academy in Albany, New York, until age 15

Table of Contents

Volume One
Preface
Chapter 1. Foot in Stirrup
Chapter 2. A Calm
Chapter 3. A King for a Comrade
Chapter 4. A Chat in the Clouds
Chapter 5. Seats secured and Portmanteaus Packed
Chapter 6. Eight Bells
Chapter 7. A Pause
Chapter 8. They push off, Velis and Remis
Chapter 9. The Watery World is all before Them
Chapter 10. They arrange their Canopies and Lounges, and try to make Things comfortable
Chapter 11. Jarl afflicted with the Lockjaw
Chapter 12. More about being in an open Boat
Chapter 13. Of the Chondropterygii, and other uncouth Hordes infesting the South Seas
Chapter 14. Jarl's Misgivings
Chapter 15. A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
Chapter 16. They are Becalmed
Chapter 17. In high Spirits they push on for the Terra Incognita
Chapter 18. My Lord Shark and his Pages
Chapter 19. Who goes there?
Chapter 20. Noises and Portents
Chapter 21. Man ho!
Chapter 22. What befel the Brigantine at the Pearl Shell Islands
Chapter 23. Sailing from the Island they pillage the Cabin
Chapter 24. Dedicated to the College of Physicians and Surgeons
Chapter 25. Peril a Peace-maker
Chapter 26. Containing a Pennyweight of Philosophy
Chapter 27. In which the past History of the Parki is concluded
Chapter 28. Suspicions laid, and something about the Calmuc
Chapter 29. What they lighted upon in further searching the Craft, and the Resolution they came to
Chapter 30. Hints for a full length of Samoa
Chapter 31. Rovings Alow and Aloft
Chapter 32. Xiphius Platypterus
Chapter 33. Otard
Chapter 34. How they steered on their Way
Chapter 35. Ah, Annatoo!
Chapter 36. The Parki gives up the Ghost
Chapter 37. Once more they take to the Chamois
Chapter 38. The Sea on Fire
Chapter 39. They fall in with Strangers
Chapter 40. Sire and Sons
Chapter 41. A Fray
Chapter 42. Remorse
Chapter 43. The Tent entered
Chapter 44. Away!
Chapter 45. Reminiscences
Chapter 46. The Chamois with a roving Commission
Chapter 47. Yillah, Jarl, and Samoa
Chapter 48. Something under the Surface
Chapter 49. Yillah
Chapter 50. Yillah in Ardair
Chapter 51. The Dream begins to fade
Chapter 52. World ho!
Chapter 53. The Chamois Ashore
Chapter 54. A Gentleman from the Sun
Chapter 55. Tiffin in a Temple
Chapter 56. King Media a Host
Chapter 57. Taji takes Counsel with himself
Chapter 58. Mardi by Night and Yillah by Day
Chapter 59. Their Morning Meal
Chapter 60. Belshazzar on the Bench
Chapter 61. An Incognito
Chapter 62. Taji retires from the World
Chapter 63. Odo and its Lord
Chapter 64. Yillah a Phantom
Chapter 65. Taji makes three Acquaintances
Chapter 66. With a fair Wind at Sunrise they sail
Chapter 67. Little King Peepi
Chapter 68. How Teeth were regarded in Valapee
Chapter 69. The Company discourse, and Braid-Beard rehearses a Legend
Chapter 70. The Minstrel leads off with a Paddle-Song; and a Message is received from Abroad
Chapter 71. They land upon the Island of Juam
Chapter 72. A Book from the Chronicles of Mohi
Chapter 73. Something more of the Prince
Chapter 74. Advancing deeper into the Vale, they encounter Donjalolo
Chapter 75. Time and Temples
Chapter 76. A pleasant Place for a Lounge
Chapter 77. The House of the Afternoon
Chapter 78. Babbalanja solus
Chapter 79. The Center of many Circumferences
Chapter 80. Donjalolo in the Bosom of his Family 
Chapter 81. Wherien Babbalanja relates the Adventure of one Karkeke in the Land of Shades
Chapter 82. How Donjalolo sent Agents to the surrounding Isles; with the Result
Chapter 83. They visit the Tributary Islets
Chapter 84. Taji sits down to Dinner with five-and-twenty Kings, and a royal Time they have
Chapter 85. After Dinner
Chapter 86. Of those Scamps the Plujii
Chapter 87. Nora-Bamma
Chapter 88. In a Calm, Hautia's Heralds approach
Chapter 89. Braid-Beard rehearses the Origin of the Isle of Rogues
Chapter 90. Rare Sport at Ohonoo
Chapter 91. Of King Uhia and his Subjects
Chapter 92. The God Keevi and the Precipice of Mondo
Chapter 93. Babbalanja steps in between Mohi and Yoomy; and Yoomy relates a Legend
Chapter 94. Of that joly old Lord, Borabolla; and that jolly Island of his, Mondoldo; and of the Fish-ponds, and the Hereafters of Fish
Chapter 95. That jolly old Lord Borabolla laughs on both Sides of his Face
Chapter 96. Samoa a Surgeon
Chapter 97. Faith and Knowledge
Chapter 98. The Tale of a Traveler
Chapter 99. "Marnee Ora, Ora Marnee"
Chapter 100. The Pursuer himself is pursued
Chapter 101. The Irish
Chapter 102. They depart from Mondoldo
Chapter 103. As they sail
Chapter 104. Wherein Babbalanja broaches a diabolical Theory, and in his own Person proves it

Volume Two
Chapter 105. Maramma
Chapter 106. They land
Chapter 107. They pass through the Woods
Chapter 108. Hivohitee MDCCCXLVIII
Chapter 109. They visit the great Moral
Chapter 110. They discourse of the Gods of Mardi, and Braid-Beard tells of one Foni
Chapter 111. They visit the Lake of Yammo
Chapter 112. They meet the Pilgrims at the Temple of Oro
Chapter 113. They discourse of Alma
Chapter 114. Mohi tells of one Ravoo, and they land to visit Hevaneva, a flourishing Artisan
Chapter 115. A Nursery-tale of Babbalanja's
Chapter 116. Landig to visit Hivohitee the Pontiff, they encounter an extraordinary old Hermit; with whom Yoomy has a confidential Interview, but learns little
Chapter 117. Babbalanja endeavors to explain the Mystery
Chapter 118. Taji receives Tidings and Omens
Chapter 119. Dreams
Chapter 120. Media and babbalanja discourse
Chapter 121. They regale themselves with their Pipes
Chapter 122. They visit an extraordinary old Antiquary
Chapter 123. They go down into the Catacombs
Chapter 124. Babbalanja quotes from an antique Pagan; and earnestly presses it upon the Company, that what he recites is not his but another's 
Chapter 125. They visit a wealthy old Pauper
Chapter 126. Yoomy sings some odd Verses, and Babbalanja quotes from the old Authors right and left
Chapter 127. What manner of Men the Tapparians were
Chapter 128. Their adventures upon landing at Pimminee
Chapter 129. A, I, and O
Chapter 130. A Reception-day at Pimminee
Chapter 131. Babbalanja falleth upon Pimminee Tooth and Nail
Chapter 132. Babbalanja regales the Company with smoe Sandwiches
Chapter 133. They still remain upon the Rock
Chapter 134. Behind and Before
Chapter 135. Babbalanja discourses in the Dark
Chapter 136. My Lord Media summons Mohi to the Stand
Chapter 137. Wherein Babbalanka and Yoomy embrace
Chapter 138. Of the Isle of Diranda
Chapter 139. They visit the Lords Piko and Hello
Chapter 140. They attend the Games
Chapter 141. Taji still hunted and beckoned
Chapter 142. They embark from Diranda
Chapter 143. Wherein Babbalanja discourses of himself
Chapter 144. Of the Sourcerers in the Isle of Minda
Chapter 145. Chiefly of King Bello
Chapter 146. Dominora and Vivenza
Chapter 147. They land at Dominora
Chapter 148. Through Dominora, they wander after Yillah
Chapter 149. They behold King Bello's State Canoe
Chapter 150. Wherein Babbalanja bows thrice
Chapter 151. Babbalanja philosophizes, and my Lord Media passes round the Calabashes
Chapter 152. They sail round an Island without landing; and talk round a Subject without getting at it
Chapter 153. They draw nigh to Porpheero; where they behold a terrific Eruption
Chapter 154. Wherein King Media celebrates the Glories of Autumn; the Minstrel, the Promise of Spring
Chapter 155. In whihc Azzageddi seems to use Babbalanja for a Mouth-piece
Chapter 156. The charming Yoomy sings
Chapter 157. They draw nigh unto Land
Chapter 158. They visit the great central Temple of Vivenza
Chapter 159. Wherein Babbalanja comments upon the Speech of Alanno
Chapter 160. A Scene in the Land of Warwicks, or King-makers
Chapter 161. They hearken unto a Voice from the Gods
Chapter 162. They visit the extreme South of Vivenza
Chapter 163. They converse of the Mollusca, Kings, Toad-stools, and other Matters
Chapter 164. Wherein, that gallant Gentleman and Demi-god, King Media, Scepter in Hand, throws himself into the Breach
Chapter 165. They round the stormy Cape of Capes
Chapter 166. They encounter Gold-hunters
Chapter 167. They seek through the Isles of Palms; and pass the Isles of Myrrh
Chapter 168. Concentric, inward, with Mardi's Reef, they leave their Wake around the World
Chapter 169. Sailing on
Chapter 170. A flight of Nightingales from Yoomy's Mouth
Chapter 171. They visit one Doxodox
Chapter 172. King Media dreams
Chapter 173. After a long Interval, by Night they are becalmed
Chapter 174. They land at Hooloomooloo
Chapter 175. A Book from the "Ponderings of old Bardianna"
Chapter 176. Babbalanja starts to his Feet
Chapter 177. At last, the last Mention is made of old Bardianna; and His last Will and Testament is recited at Length
Chapter 178. A Death-cloud sweeps by them as they sail
Chapter 179. They visit the palmy King Abrazza
Chapter 180. Some pleasant, shady Talk in the Groves, between my Lords Abrazza and Media, Babbalanja, Mohi, and Yoomy
Chapter 181. They sup
Chapter 182. They embark
Chapter 183. Babbalanja at the Full of the Moon
Chapter 184. Morning
Chapter 185. L'Ultima sera
Chapter 186. They sail from Night to Day
Chapter 187. They land
Chapter 188. Babbalanja relates to them a Vision
Chapter 189. They depart from Serenia
Chapter 190. They meet the Phantoms
Chapter 191. They draw nigh to Flozella
Chapter 192. They land
Chapter 193. They enter the Bower of Hautia
Chapter 194. Taji with Hautia
Chapter 195. Mardi behind: an Ocean before

Historical Note by Elizabeth S. Foster
Textual Record by the Editors
    Note on the Text
    Discussions of Adopted Readings
    List of Emendations
    Report of Line-End Hypehnation
    List of Substantive Variants
Related Documents
    Manuscript Fragments