- description
- # They Land To Visit Hevaneva, A Flourishing Artisan
## Overview
This section, titled "They Land To Visit Hevaneva, A Flourishing Artisan," is an excerpt from a larger work, likely a novel, and is part of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. It details the protagonists' visit to Hevaneva, a renowned artisan who manufactures idols for the surrounding islands. The text spans lines 1268-1334 of the source file [mardi_vol2.txt](arke:01KG89J1954N2G0NAERBNJXEX9).
## Context
This section is contained within [CHAPTER X. Mohi Tells Of One Ravoo, And They Land To Visit Hevaneva, A Flourishing Artisan](arke:01KG8AJQ15YACHJS0946CXB5WD). It follows the section [Mohi Tells Of One Ravoo](arke:01KG8AKF7VNWYQ0H0WEGPW6G9C), which describes the character Ravoo, a swift messenger. The narrative continues in the subsequent section, which further elaborates on Hevaneva's business, including [Under sanction of the Pontiff, Hevaneva, in addition to his large commerce in idols, also carried on the highly lucrative business of canoe-building;](arke:01KG8AKF7YHD50XQC7YY1Q5YSD).
## Contents
The section describes the visit to Hevaneva's workshop, located in a pleasant dell. Hevaneva, assisted by numerous journeymen, is engaged in the lucrative business of creating idols, which are considered legitimate only if made in Maramma, consecrated by Hivohitee, and paid for with strings of teeth. The text details the idol-making process, including chiseling, trenching, and boring, and the final polishing with shark-skin. Hevaneva displays a variety of idols, from giant figures to small ear-worn images, noting a recent demand for idols of Arbino (god of fishing) and Nadams (god of love and wine). A philosophical discussion ensues between Babbalanja and Hevaneva regarding the artisan's belief in the gods he creates, with Hevaneva candidly admitting that to him, the idols are merely "logs" until they are paid for. He also explains that all idols are made from the same material, with each tree yielding approximately fifty idols, and that old images are often reworked into new patterns.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:58.504Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- They Land To Visit Hevaneva, A Flourishing Artisan
- end_line
- 1334
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:05.200Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 1268
- text
- Ere coming in sight of Uma, we put into a little bay, to pay our
respects to Hevaneva, a famous character there dwelling; who, assisted
by many journeymen, carried on the lucrative business of making idols
for the surrounding isles.
Know ye, that all idols not made in Maramma, and consecrated by
Hivohitee; and, what is more, in strings of teeth paid down for to
Hevaneva; are of no more account, than logs, stocks, or stones. Yet
does not the cunning artificer monopolize the profits of his vocation;
for Hevaneva being but the vassal of the Pontiff, the latter lays claim
to King Leo’s share of the spoils, and secures it.
The place was very prettily lapped in a pleasant dell, nigh to the
margin of the water; and here, were several spacious arbors; wherein,
prostrate upon their sacred faces, were all manner of idols, in every
imaginable stage of statuary development.
With wonderful industry the journeymen were plying their tools;—some
chiseling noses; some trenching for mouths; and others, with heated
flints, boring for ears: a hole drilled straight through the occiput,
representing the auricular organs.
“How easily they are seen through,” said Babbalanja, taking a sight
through one of the heads.
The last finish is given to their godships, by rubbing them all over
with dried slips of consecrated shark-skin, rough as sand paper, tacked
over bits of wood.
In one of the farther arbors, Hevaneva pointed out a goodly array of
idols, all complete and ready for the market. They were of every
variety of pattern; and of every size; from that of a giant, to the
little images worn in the ears of the ultra devout.
“Of late,” said the artist, “there has been a lively demand for the
image of Arbino the god of fishing; the present being the principal
season for that business. For Nadams (Nadam presides over love and
wine), there has also been urgent call; it being the time of the grape;
and the maidens growing frolicsome withal, and devotional.”
Seeing that Hevaneva handled his wares with much familiarity, not to
say irreverence, Babbalanja was minded to learn from him, what he
thought of his trade; whether the images he made were genuine or
spurious; in a word, whether he believed in his gods.
His reply was curious. But still more so, the marginal gestures
wherewith he helped out the text.
“When I cut down the trees for my idols,” said he, “they are nothing
but logs; when upon those logs, I chalk out the figures of, my images,
they yet remain logs; when the chisel is applied, logs they are still;
and when all complete, I at last stand them up in my studio, even then
they are logs. Nevertheless, when I handle the pay, they are as prime
gods, as ever were turned out in Maramma.”
“You must make a very great variety,” said Babbalanja.
“All sorts, all sorts.”
“And from the same material, I presume.”
“Ay, ay, one grove supplies them all. And, on an average, each tree
stands us in full fifty idols. Then, we often take second-hand images
in part pay for new ones. These we work over again into new patterns;
touching up their eyes and ears; resetting their noses; and more
especially new-footing their legs, where they always decay first.”
- title
- They Land To Visit Hevaneva, A Flourishing Artisan