Many thanks to those who have helped me so far on my first journey through this software.

Now...

I ran nph-import.cgi from the shell and the output (after a while) was "import completed successfully". But, there is nothing in my databases. I can find no configuration information for the db (question: Where is it?) and my first guess is that the inserts silently failed.
However comma ...
At the end of this import process am I right to expect that my database will be magically filled with Link-y goodness? Perhaps my hopes need to be set in order.
grant

You need to repair your tables after an import.