Herman Melville's Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. I is a mid-19th-century novel that explores themes of exploration, existential inquiry, and social critique against the backdrop of the Pacific. The protagonist, Taji, grows disillusioned with life at sea and yearns to escape its monotony for the thrill of adventure.
The novel begins with Taji on the whaling ship Arcturion, setting sail from Ravavai to the Galapagos Islands. The voyage quickly becomes tedious and frustrating for him, and he longs for companionship that resonates with his intellectual and emotional needs. However, his shipmates strike him as dull and unrefined. As boredom deepens, Taji’s desire for adventure intensifies, and he contemplates leaving the ship for unknown lands. A key figure in his plan is the seasoned sailor Jarl, whom Taji persuades to join him in an audacious escape.

PREFACE

CHAPTER I. Foot in Stirrup
CHAPTER II. A Calm
CHAPTER III. A King for a Comrade
CHAPTER IV. A Chat in the Clouds
CHAPTER V. Seats secured and Portmanteaus packed
CHAPTER VI. Eight Bells
CHAPTER VII. A Pause
CHAPTER VIII. They push off, Velis et Remis
CHAPTER IX. The Watery World is all before Them
CHAPTER X. They arrange their Canopies And Lounges, and try to Make Things comfortable
CHAPTER XI. Jarl afflicted with the Lockjaw
CHAPTER XII. More about being in an open Boat
CHAPTER XIII. Of the Chondropterygii, and other uncouth Hordes infesting the South Seas
CHAPTER XIV. Jarl’s Misgivings
CHAPTER XV. A Stitch in time saves Nine
CHAPTER XVI. They are Becalmed
CHAPTER XVII. In high Spirits, they push on for the Terra Incognita
CHAPTER XVIII. My Lord Shark and his Pages
CHAPTER XIX. Who goes there?
CHAPTER XX. Noises and Portents
CHAPTER XXI. Man ho!
CHAPTER XXII. What befel the Brigantine at the Pearl Shell Islands
CHAPTER XXIII. Sailing from the Island they pillage the Cabin
CHAPTER XXIV. Dedicated to the College of Physicians and Surgeons
CHAPTER XXV. Peril A Peace-Maker
CHAPTER XXVI. Containing a Pennyweight Of Philosophy
CHAPTER XXVII. In which the past History of the Parki is concluded
CHAPTER XXVIII. Suspicions laid, and something about the Calmuc
CHAPTER XXIX. What they lighted upon in further searching the Craft, and the Resolution they came to
CHAPTER XXX. Hints for a full length of Samoa
CHAPTER XXXI. Rovings Alow and Aloft
CHAPTER XXXII. Xiphius Platypterus
CHAPTER XXXIII. Otard
CHAPTER XXXIV. How they steered on their Way
CHAPTER XXXV. Ah, Annatoo!
CHAPTER XXXVI. The Parki gives up the Ghost
CHAPTER XXXVII. Once more they take to the Chamois
CHAPTER XXXVIII. The Sea on Fire
CHAPTER XXXIX. They fall in with Strangers
CHAPTER XL. Sire and Sons
CHAPTER XLI. A Fray
CHAPTER XLII. Remorse
CHAPTER XLIII. The Tent entered
CHAPTER XLIV. Away!
CHAPTER XLV. Reminiscences
CHAPTER XLVI. The Chamois with a roving Commission
CHAPTER XLVII. Yillah, Jarl, and Samoa
CHAPTER XLVIII. Something under the Surface
CHAPTER XLIX. Yillah
CHAPTER L. Yillah in Ardair
CHAPTER LI. The Dream begins to fade
CHAPTER LII. World ho!
CHAPTER LIII. The Chamois Ashore
CHAPTER LIV. A Gentleman from the Sun
CHAPTER LV. Tiffin in a Temple
CHAPTER LVI. King Media a Host
CHAPTER LVII. Taji takes Counsel with himself
CHAPTER LVIII. Mardi by Night and Yillah by Day
CHAPTER LIX. Their Morning Meal
CHAPTER LX. Belshazzar on the Bench
CHAPTER LXI. An Incognito
CHAPTER LXII. Taji retires from the World
CHAPTER LXIII. Odo and its Lord
CHAPTER LXIV. Yillah a Phantom
CHAPTER LXV. Taji makes three Acquaintances
CHAPTER LXVI. With a fair Wind, at Sunrise they sail
CHAPTER LXVII. Little King Peepi
CHAPTER LXVIII. How Teeth were regarded in Valapee
CHAPTER LXIX. The Company discourse, and Braid-Beard rehearses a Legend
CHAPTER LXX. The Minstrel leads off with a Paddle-Song; and a Message is received from Abroad
CHAPTER LXXI. They land upon the Island of Juam
CHAPTER LXXII. A Book from the Chronicles of Mohi
CHAPTER LXXIII. Something more of the Prince
CHAPTER LXXIV. Advancing deeper into the Vale, they encounter Donjalolo
CHAPTER LXXV. Time and Temples
CHAPTER LXXVI. A pleasant Place for a Lounge
CHAPTER LXXVII. The House of the Afternoon
CHAPTER LXXVIII. Babbalanja solus
CHAPTER LXXIX. The Center of many Circumferences
CHAPTER LXXX. Donjalolo in the Bosom of his Family
CHAPTER LXXXI. Wherein Babbalanja relates the Adventure of one Karkeke in the Land of Shades
CHAPTER LXXXII. How Donjalolo, sent Agents to the Surrounding Isles; with the Result
CHAPTER LXXXIII. They visit the Tributary Islets
CHAPTER LXXXIV. Taji sits down to Dinner with five-And-Twenty Kings, and a royal Time they have
CHAPTER LXXXV. After Dinner
CHAPTER LXXXVI. Of those Scamps the Plujii
CHAPTER LXXXVII. Nora-Bamma
CHAPTER LXXXVIII. In a Calm, Hautia’s Heralds approach
CHAPTER LXXXIX. Braid-Beard rehearses the Origin of the Isle of Rogues
CHAPTER XC. Rare Sport at Ohonoo
CHAPTER XCI. Of King Uhia and his Subjects
CHAPTER XCII. The God Keevi and the Precipice of Mondo
CHAPTER XCIII. Babbalanja steps in between Mohi and Yoomy; and Yoomy relates a Legend
CHAPTER XCIV. Of that jolly old Lord, Borabolla; and that jolly Island of his, Mondoldo; and of the Fish-Ponds, and the Hereafters of Fish
CHAPTER XCV. That jolly old Lord Borabolla laughs on both Sides of his Face
CHAPTER XCVI. Samoa a Surgeon
CHAPTER XCVII. Faith and Knowledge
CHAPTER XCVIII. The Tale of a Traveler
CHAPTER XCIX. “Marnee Ora, Ora Marnee”
CHAPTER C. The Pursuer himself is pursued
CHAPTER CI. The Iris
CHAPTER CII. They depart from Mondoldo
CHAPTER CIII. As they sail
CHAPTER CIV. Wherein Babbalanja broaches a diabolical Theory, and in his Own Person proves it