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the Days of Dearth （1158…60） were at the time of this talelong past and the Hobbits had again bee accustomed to plenty。 The land wasrich and kindly； and though it had long been deserted when they entered it； ithad before been well tilled； and there the king had once had many farms；
cornlands； vineyards； and woods。
Forty leagues it stretched from the Far Downs to the Brandywine Bridge；
and fifty from the northern moors to the marshes in the south。 The Hobbitsnamed it the Shire； as the region of the authority of their Thain； and adistrict of well…ordered business； and there in that pleasant er of theworld they plied their well…ordered business of living； and they heeded lessand less the world outside where dark things moved； until they came to thinkthat peace and plenty were the rule in Middle…earth and the right of allsensible folk。 They forgot or ignored what little they had ever known of theGuardians； and of the labours of those that made possible the long peace ofthe Shire。 They were； in fact； sheltered； but they had ceased to remember it。
At no time had Hobbits of any kind been warlike； and they had neverfought among themselves。 In olden days they had； of course； been often obligedto fight to maintain themselves in a hard world； but in Bilbo's time that wasvery ancient history。 The last battle； before this story opens； and indeed theonly one that had ever been fought within the borders of the Shire； was beyondliving memory： the Battle of Greenfields； S。R。 1147； in which Bandobras Tookrouted an invasion of Orcs。 Even the weathers had grown milder； and the wolvesthat had once e ravening out of the North in bitter white winters were nowonly a grandfather's tale。 So； though there was still some store of weapons inthe Shire； these were used mostly as trophies； hanging above hearths or onwalls； or gathered into the museum at Michel Delving。 The Mathom…house it wascalled； for anything that Hobbits had no immediate use for； but were unwillingto throw away； they called a _mathom_。 Their dwellings were apt to beerather crowded with mathoms； and many of the presents that passed from hand tohand were of that son。
Nonetheless； ease and peace had left this people still curiously tough。
They were； if it came to it； difficult to daunt or to kill； and they were；
perhaps； so unwearyingly fond of good things not least because they could；
when put to it； do without them； and could survive rough handling by grief；
foe； or weather in a way that astonished those who did not know them well andlooked no further than their bellies and their well…fed faces。 Though slow toquarrel； and for sport killing nothing that lived； they were doughty at bay；
and at need could still handle arms。 They shot well with the bow； for theywere keen…eyed and sure at the mark。 Not only with bows and arrows。 If anyHobbit stooped for a stone； it was well to get quickly under cover； as alltrespassing beasts knew very well。
All Hobbits had originally lived in holes in the ground； or so theybelieved； and in such dwellings they still felt most at home； but in thecourse of time they had been obliged to adopt other forms of abode。 Actuallyin the Shire in Bilbo's days it was； as a rule； only the richest and thepoorest Hobbits that maintained the old custom。 The poorest went on living inburrows of the most primitive kind； mere holes indeed； with only one window ornone； while the well…to…do still constructed more luxurious versions of thesimple diggings of old。 But suitable sites for these large and ramifyingtunnels （or _smials_ as they called them） were not everywhere to be found； andin the flats and the low…lying districts the Hobbits； as they multiplied；
began to build above ground。 Indeed； even in the hilly regions and the oldervillages； such as Hobbiton or Tuckborough； or in the chief township of theShire； Michel Delving on the White Downs； there were now many houses of wood；
brick； or stone。 These were specially favoured by millers； smiths； ropers； andcartwrights； and others of that sort； for even when they had holes to live in。
Hobbits had long been accustomed to build sheds and workshops。
The habit of building farmhouses and barns was said to have begun amongthe inhabitants of the Marish down by the Brandywine。 The Hobbits of thatquarter； the Eastfarthing； were rather large and heavy…legged； and they woredwarf…boots in muddy weather。 But they were well known to be Stoors in a largepart of their blood； as indeed was shown by the down that many grew on theirchins。 No Harfoot or Fallohide had any trace of a beard。 Indeed； the folk ofthe Marish； and of Buckland； east of the River； which they afterwardsoccupied； came for the most part later into the Shire up from south…away； andthey still had many peculiar names and strange words not found elsewhere inthe Shire。
It is probable that the craft of building； as many other crafts beside；
was derived from the Dúnedain。 But the Hobbits may have learned it direct fromthe Elves； the teachers of Men in their youth。 For the Elves of the HighKindred had not yet forsaken Middle…earth； and they dwelt still at that timeat the Grey Havens away to the west； and in other places within reach of theShire。 Three Elf…towers of immemorial age were still to be seen on the TowerHills beyond the western marches。 They shone far off in the moonlight。 Thetallest was furthest away； standing alone upon a green mound。 The Hobbits ofthe Westfarthing said that one could see the Sea from the lop of that tower；
but no Hobbit had ever been known to climb it。 Indeed； few Hobbits had everseen or sailed upon the Sea； and fewer still had ever returned to report it。
Most Hobbits regarded even rivers and small boats with deep misgivings； andnot many of them could swim。 And as the days of the Shire lengthened theyspoke less and less with the Elves； and grew afraid of them； and distrustfulof those that had dealings with them； and the Sea became a word of fear amongthem； and a token of death； and they turned their faces away from the hills inthe west。
The craft of building may have e from Elves or Men； but the Hobbitsused it in their own fashion。 They did not go in for towers。 Their houses wereusually long； low； and fortable。 T