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Old 08-30-2009, 05:09 AM   #1
skip spence
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skip spence is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.skip spence is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.
Although it's hardly an indication of a widely used trade-route, it's interesting to note that Bilbo gave away plenty of toys out of Dale for his birthday party. The Dwarves (supposedly) who delivered them might have been party-guests too but I find it a little hard to believe that they would make such a journey for pleasure only.

Actually I think that trade between Dwarves and Hobbits of the Shire must have been rather commonplace, although most Shire-folk had little of no direct contact with Dwarves. I don't see the Dwarves of the Blue Mountain being much for farming but they would still be in need of agricultural produce. If they don't grow crops themselves that only leaves the Elves of Lindon and the Hobbits of the Shire as realistic trade partners. With an eye for profit, wouldn't the Dwarves get a better deal in the Shire than in the Gray Havens, seeing that their exclusive goods (like clocks) must have been be more fancy and luxurious for the lowly Hobbits than for the lofty Elves.
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Old 09-06-2009, 07:52 PM   #2
Inziladun
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Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.
During my re-reading of The Hobbit I found something that might bear on this subject.

Quote:
There stood barrels, and barrels, and barrels; for the Wood-elves, and especially their king, were very fond of wine, though no vines grew in those parts. The wine, and other goods, were brought from far away, from their kinsfolk in the South, or from the vineyards of Men in distant lands.
The Hobbit Barrels Out of Bond (emphasis added)

Granted, it is The Hobbit, so a small pinch of salt might be in order.
But still, who could the 'kinsfolk in the South' possibly be? The Lórien Elves were to the Southwest, but Celeborn's words to Legolas,

Quote:
Welcome son of Thranduil! Too seldom do my kindred journey hither from the North.
would seem to indicate there wasn't much contact between the two realms.
At any rate, the Forest River and the R. Celduin would not seem to be viable trade routes for any commerce between Thranduil's people and other Elves.
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