The History of Middle Earth: Volume 7 - The Treason of Isengard
Page 41
The Nargil Pass (S 17) is clearly represented and lettered on the 1943 map, whereas on the First Map it was scribbled in very hastily and is hardly legible (but apparently reads Narghil Pass). Mount Mindolluin was similarly added in roughly between Minas Tirith and the original mountain shown in the north-east corner of Q 13, but is carefully shown on mine (see note 1); the name is left off the redrawing through lack of space.
On the 1943 map only, my father moved Dol Amroth from R 9 to R 11 (south of the mouth of the river Morthond); on both maps he changed Belfalas to Anfalas; on the First Map only, he changed Anarion on q 14 to Anorien, and altered Land of Seven Streams to Land of Five Streams; and on the 1943 map he struck out Anarion and Lebennin (Land of Seven Streams) and re-entered Lebennin in the place of Anarion on q 14.
This question of the southern rivers is very curious. In the original draft of Gandalf's story of his adventures to the Council of Elrond (p. 132) Radagast told him that he would scarcely come to Saruman's abode 'before the Nine cross the Seven Rivers', which in the next version (p. 149) becomes 'before the Nine have crossed the seventh river'. In 'the Lord of Moria' (p. 177) Boromir advises that the Company should 'take the road to my land that I followed on my way hither: through Rohan and the country of Seven Streams. Or we could go on far into the South and come at length round the Black Mountains, and crossing the rivers Isen and Silverlode [> Blackroot] enter Ond from the regions nigh the sea.' I have remarked there that this can only mean that the Company would pass through 'the country of Seven Streams' if they went to Minas Tirith by way of Rohan, north of the Black Mountains. On the other hand, in 'Farewell to Lorien' (p. 282) Boromir on his journey to Rivendell 'went round by the south about the Black Mountains and up the Greyflood - or the Seventh River as we call it.' And earlier in the same chapter (p. 272) he says that he was born 'between the mountains and the sea, on the borders of the Land of Seven Streams.'
The naming of Greyflood the Seventh River is an original element of the oldest portion 'A' of the First Map, and is surely to be associated with the Land of Seven Streams, especially in view of the change in the drafts of Gandalf's tale to the Council of Elrond, cited above, from 'the Seven Rivers' to 'the seventh river'. But what then were these rivers? I am certain that there is no river save Blackroot (with a tributary) west of Ethir Anduin on the hidden part of A (Map III (A)). Even if Anduin itself is counted, and the tributary of Blackroot, and if the unnamed river (later Lefnui) is supposed a very early addition, Isen is the fifth and Greyflood the sixth. I have not been able to find any solution to this puzzle.
With the replacement portion 'C' the nature of the puzzle changes. Lebennin (Land of Seven Streams) is a small region, and it is notable that seven rivers are indeed shown here (Map III, Q-R 11 - 14): Morthond and an unnamed tributary; Ringlo and an unnamed tributary; an unnamed river that enters Anduin above the Mouths; and an unnamed river entering Anduin further up its course (R 14), formed of two tributaries one of which flows from Minas Tirith.(7) But Greyflood, some 450 miles to the north-west of the most westerly of these seven streams, remains the Seventh River.(8) A further twist to the problem arises from the fact that Lebennin does not in any case mean 'Seven Streams', but 'Five Streams'. The original Quenya word for 'five' was lemin (1.246); and in the Etymologies (V.368) are found the Quenya word lempe 'five' and the Noldorin word lheben (cf. Q. lepse, N. lhebed, 'finger'). Ossiriand was the Land of Seven Rivers (cf. the Etymologies, V.379, Quenya otso, Noldorin odog 'seven'). As noted above, my father afterwards changed 'Seven' to 'Five' on the First Map, and in The Lord of the Rings the name Lebennin means 'Five Streams': cf. The Return of the King V.1 (p. 22), 'fair Lebennin with its five swift streams'.
A later map of my father's does not solve these problems, but carries a note that is very interesting in this connection. When this map was made Lebennin had been moved to its final position. The note reads:
Rivers of Gondor.
Anduin
From East.
Ithilduin or Duin Morghul.
Poros Boundary
From West.
Ereg First.
The 5 rivers. of Lebennin.
Sirith.
Lameduin (of Lamedon) with tributaries.
Semi (E.) and Kelos (W.)
Ringlo, Kiril, Morthond and Calenhir that
all flow into Cobas Haven.
Lhefneg Fifth
In counting only the mouths are counted: Ereg 1, Sirith 2, Lame- duin 3, Morthond 4, Lhefneg 5, Isen 6, Gwathlo 7.
Thus in relation to the final geography of the region:
- Ereg (the unnamed river on the First Map flowing into Anduin on R 14) became Erui.
- Sirith (the unnamed river on the First Map flowing into Anduin on R 13) remained.
- Lameduin here has tributaries Serni and Kelos, which evidently constitute Lameduin from their confluence. On the First Map
Lameduin is Ringlo, with unnamed tributaries. In the final form Lameduin became Gilrain, with its tributary Serni, while Kelos was transferred to become a tributary of Sirith.(9)
- Of the four rivers Ringlo, Kiril, Morthond, and Calenhir 'that all flow into Cobas Haven' the first three only are named on this map; but though the Calenhir is not, it is shown as an unnamed river, most westerly of the four, flowing eastwards from Pinnath Gelin. These four rivers join together not far from the coast, and flow (as Morthond, according to the list of river-mouths above) into the sea in the bay north of Dol Amroth, which is named Cobas Haven.(10) In the final geography this configuration remains, although Calenhir is lost.
- Lhefneg became Lefnui.
- Isen remained.
- Gwathlo or Greyflood is on this map given an alternative name Odotheg, changed to Odothui (i.e. 'seventh').
For the first appearance in the texts of the Mountains if Shadow and the Valley of Gorgoroth see p. 144; cf. also the Gap of Gorgoroth, p. 208. Kirith Ungol ('the passes of Mordor') appears in 'Farewell to Lorien', p. 283. For Lithlad ('Plain of Ash') see pp. 208, 213, and for the first occurrence of Orodruin p. 28. Lothlann (U 17-18) was apparently an original name on portion 'C' of the First Map, but it was struck out; whether it appeared on the 1943 map cannot be said, for the bottom right-hand corner of that map was torn off. Lothlann ('wide and empty') derives from The Silmarillion: see the Index to Vol. V.
On Haradwaith (Sutherland) see pp. 304, 306. The name Swertings appears in The Two Towers, IV.3 (p. 255), where Sam speaks of 'the big folk down away in the Sunlands. Swertings we call 'em in our tales.' Barangils is found later as a name in Gondor for the men of the Harad.
Maps IV (A) to IV (E).
We come now to what is by far the most complex part of the First Map, the rectangle of fifteen squares (N-P 10 - 14) lettered 'D' on the figure on p. 297, and left blank on Map II. This section was redrawn and replaced many times.
IV (A).
In Map IV (A) the uppermost line of squares N 10 - 14 is part of the original 'A' portion of the First Map, whereas lines 0 and P are part of the superimposed portion 'C'; but I believe that most of the features and names shown on the line N were added in after portion 'C' had been glued on, and that there is no need to trouble with this distinction. The little that can be seen (and very little seems to have been marked in) on lines o and P of the original 'A' portion is shown on Map III (A), where the line of Anduin below Palath Nenui (Wetwang) was entirely different (see p. 307).
The vertical line of squares N-P 15 on the right-hand side of Map IV (A) is repeated from Map II, and is merely added to make the conjunction easier to follow (it includes also the remainder of the name Border Hills, which was later struck out). The shaded area on N-P 10 - 11 is invisible owing to a later pasted overlay (see under Map IV (D) below). I think it is certain that the hills marked Green Hills and those marked Emyn Rhain (Border Hills) were put in at the same time, at the making of portion 'C'; but I do not think that they were named at once. This matter is rather complex, but it reveals, as I believe, an interesting aspect of the relation b
etween my father's narrative writing and his maps. I set out first the various statements made in the earliest texts of the chapter 'Farewell to Lorien' about the country through which the Anduin flowed south of Lothlorien.
(i) The River winds among the Border Hills, Emyn Rain. They must decide their course there, because the Wetwang lies before them (p. 268).
(ii) They pass into the Rhain Hills u here the River winds in deep ravines (p. 269).
(iii) The Company lands (on Tolondren, the island in Anduin) and goes up into the Rhain Hills (p. 269).
(iv) The Company lands on Tolondren.... They cross to the East bank and go up into the Green Hills (or Emyn Rhain?) (p. 269).
(v) Elves of Lorien shall go with the Company as far as the Green Hills where the River winds among deep ravines (with Rhain written above Green) (p. 271).
(vi) Keleborn speaks of the falls of Rhain where the River runs out of the ravines in the Green Hills (p. 273).
(vii) Keleborn says that the River will pass through a bare and barren country before it flows into the sluggish region of Nindalf, where the Entwash flows in. Beyond that are Emyn Rhain the Border Hills... The Company should leave the River u here the isle of Tolondren stands in the stream above the falls of Rosfein and cross the Entwash above the marshes (pp. 281 - 2).
(Here the Border Hills are displaced southwards, beyond Tolondren and the Nindalf. Keleborn's words were rewritten to say:)
(viii) the River will pass through a bare and barren country, winding among the Border Hills before it falls down into the sluggish region of Nindalf (p. 281).
There is clearly a doubt or confusion here as to the Green Hills and the Border Hills, and different views of how the Border Hills relate to Tolondren, the falls, and the Nindalf or Wetwang. I do not think that any definite conclusion can be drawn from these texts taken by themselves, but from the Map IV (A) I believe that the development can be tolerably well understood.
The line of hills extending on either side of Anduin (N 12 - 14), and the hills rising to east and south-east of these (N - O 14 - 15), were drawn in at the same time and in the same style, characteristic of portion 'C', with outlining in short strokes. The lettering, I feel sure, was put in subsequently. My belief is that these ranges were a datum already provided, illustrating my father's words in his letter to Naomi Mitchison of 25 April 1954 (Letters no. 144), I wisely started with a map, and made the story fit'; and that the confusing statements in the earliest 'Farewell to Lorien' papers show him moving towards a satisfactory relation between the evolving narrative, his vision of the lands about Anduin in these regions, and what was drawn on the map (i.e. these ranges of hills).
At one stage he decided that the hills should be the Green Hills and the Border Hills respectively. He wrote in these names, and at the same time extended the latter (more roughly, and with dotted outlines) southwest, so as to embrace both sides of Anduin (O 14, P 13 - 14). This perhaps illustrates Keleborn's words in extract (vii) above, where the Border Hills are south of Tolondren and the Nindalf. But in the margin of the First Map he noted: 'Place [?Tolondren a little more south] and combine Green Hills with Border Hills, and make Nindalf or Wetwang all round mouths of Entwash.' The last remark probably refers to the curious feature seen on Map IV, that the Wetwang lies distinctly northward of the mouths; that concerning Tolondren is no doubt reflected in the striking out of the name on N 13 and its reintroduction in a more southerly position (P 13, at the confluence with Anduin of a stream flowing in from the Black Mountains), where it was again struck out. This bit of the map had clearly become in need of redrawing.
It may be noted incidentally that the stream from the Black Mountains rises in an oval lake on P 11; and it seems perfectly clear that the Morthond rises in this lake also: see Map III, Q 11.
Map IV(B).
What now happened to the geography is clear. In the extract (viii) above Keleborn says that the River will pass through 'a bare and barren country, winding among the Border Hills before it falls down into the sluggish region of Nindalf.' In the draft (ii) given on p. 282 he says that 'the trees will fail, and you will come to a barren country. There the river flows in stony vales among high moors, until it comes to the tall island of Tolondren' (largely preserved in FR, p. 389). Thus the Brown Lands emerge, in place of the original Green Hills, on Map IV(B), which is a detached slip of 9 squares that was never pasted in. Here Tolondren (but no longer so named) is definitively in the more southerly position, and in relation to this the course of Entwash is greatly changed, bending in a great southward sweep, so that the Wetwang is still south of Tolondren and the falls (here called Dant Ruinel, this name being struck out: Rauros was later added in pencil).(11) In fact, the new course of Entwash partly takes over that of the unnamed river in IV(A), flowing in from the Black Mountains (P 12-13). The southwestward extension of the Emyn Rhain, lightly entered on IV(A), is now called Sarn Gebir and strongly reinforced (cf. Keleborn's reference to 'the bleak hills of Sarn-gebir', p. 283), but this was done very coarsely, clearly after the little slip was first drawn; on account of the heavy lines marking these hills other markings are difficult to interpret, but it can be seen that there is now a large lake (coloured blue), and a large island in the lake named the Isle of Emris,(12) while on either shore are dark spots, no doubt representing Amon Hen and Amon Lhaw.
The name [Staniland] beneath Ond(or) was entered in pencil. The Wold of Rohan is coloured green, as are the hills on N 12 - 13. The river Limlight now appears (N 12-13), though the name was only pencilled in later.
Map IV(C).
This is another detached slip showing the same 9 squares and not differing greatly from IV, save in the representation of Sarn Gebir to the west of Anduin, where the line of hills now runs North-South. The names Tolbrandir,(13) Rauros, and River Limlight were now entered (the latter two added in pencil on IV ), and the rapids, called Sarn- Ruin, north of the lake. In pencil the names Westemnet, Eastemnet, and the Entwade, not included in the redrawing, were added. G was written before Ondor, and an arrow moved Wold of Rohan to N 12, north of the hills (again coloured green) on N 12-13. The name (Rhov)annion is spelt thus, with doubled n. The name Eodor was entered in pencil on P 12, but struck through, and (apparently) moved westwards onto P 11 (the six squares N - P 10-i 1 at this time existing in the form they have on Map IV, where however much is obliterated by later overlay).
Maps IV(D) and IV(E).
Map IV(D) is a section of twelve squares (N-P 10-13) which was glued onto the map when it was in the state represented by Map IV(A), but here the glue has only adhered on the left-hand side, and thus much of IV(A) is revealed. The vertical line of squares N-P 14 was cut off from IV(C), and IV(D) was drawn to join (more or less) with this strip. Then, the four squares 0-P 10-11 were overlaid by yet another superimposed section (IV(E)), and here the corresponding part of IV is totally hidden. On IV(D) pencilled changes made to IV(C) were now included: Gondor for Ondor, the Entwade, Eastemnet and Westemnet, and the move- ment of the Wold of Rohan northwards. The two great loops in Anduin on N 13 (afterwards called the North and South Undeeps: see Unfinished Tales p. 260 and Index, entry Undeeps) appear,(14) while the course of Limlight is changed. No name is given to the rapids in Anduin - Sarn is not written to join with Ruin on the strip cut from IV(C); Sarn Gebir was written here subsequently in pencil. The names Anarion on Q 14 (Map III) and Ithilien opposite on the eastern bank of Anduin were entered at the same time as Anarion on P 13 here. On the First Map my father changed Anarion to Anorien on Q 14; on my 1943 map he changed Anarion to Anorien on P 13, whereas on Q 14 he changed Anarion to Lebennin (p. 310). On the western side of the Misty Mountains Dunland was entered (N 10), and against the vale to the south was written Westfold, which was struck through.
It seems that when map IV(E) was glued on much of the adjoining region on IV(D) was rather coarsely overdrawn, and this is a very difficult part to interpret and to represent; but as this part of the geography has not yet been reached in the texts I shall not consider
it here. The westward extension of the Black Mountains on P 8-9 (Map III) belongs with this.(15) Map IV(E) is the first representation of Isengard and the Gap of Rohan that can be reached, IV" and IV being invisible. Here appear Helm's Deep, Tindtorras (earlier name for Thrihyrne), the Ford of Isen, Dunharrow, and Methedras. Eodoras appears on P 11 (see above under Map IV ),. Eastfold appears to be represented by a dot, which may however be no more than a mark on the paper; and Westfold is pencilled in along the northern foothills of the Black Mountains. The letters rch on 0-P 10 continue the name Middlemarch (see Map II).