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Things of Middle-earth

Elven-boats

Type: Miscellaneous

Description:[Said Celeborn,] 'Then I will furnish your Company with boats. They must be small and light, for if you go far by water, there are places where you will be forced to carry them.'

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 8, Farewell to Lórien

On the bank of the Silverlode ... there was a hythe of white stones and white wood. By it were moored many boats and barges. Some were brightly painted, and shone with silver and gold and green, but most were either white or grey. Three small grey boats had been made ready for the travellers, and in these the Elves stowed their goods. ...

'These boats are light-built, and they are crafty and unlike the boats of other folk. They will not sink, lade them as you will; but they are wayward if mishandled. It would be wise if you accustomed yourselves to stepping in and out, here where there is a landing-place, before you set off downstream.' ...

The boats were moved and steered with short-handled paddles that had broad leaf-shaped blades.

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 8, Farewell to Lórien

At that moment there was a twang of bowstrings ... [One arrow] stood fast in the gunwale of the second boat ...

It was dark, but not too dark for the night-eyes of Orcs, and in the star-glimmer they must have offered their cunning foes some mark, unless it was that the grey cloaks of Lórien and the grey timber of the elf-wrought boats defeated the malice of the archers....

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 9, The Great River

... the boats were drawn out of the water and carried up. They were far less heavy than any had expected. Of what tree growing in the elvish country they were made not even Legolas knew; but the wood was tough and yet strangely light. Merry and Pippin alone could carry their boat with ease along the flat.

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 9, The Great River

... it began to rain heavily. They drew the skin-covers over their boats to prevent them from being flooded, and drifted on....

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 9, The Great River

'Then I saw ... a boat floating on the water, glimmering grey, a small boat of a strange fashion with a high prow, and there was none to row or steer it. ...

'It waded deep, as if it were heavily burdened, and ... it was almost filled with clear water, from which came the light....'

The Two Towers, LoTR Book 4, Ch 4, Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit

Contributors: Elena Tiriel 30Jan05, 3Jun05

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