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d Book； Bandobras Took （Bullroarer）； son of Isengrim the Second； was four foot five and able to ride a horse。 He was surpassed in all Hobbit records only by two famous characters of old； but that curious matter is dealt with in this book。
As for the Hobbits of the Shire； with whom these tales are concerned； in the days of their peace and prosperity they were a merry folk。 They dressed in bright colours； being notably fond of yellow and green； but they seldom wore shoes； since their feet had tough leathery soles and were clad in a thick curling hair； much like the hair of their heads； which was monly brown。 Thus； the only craft little practised among them was shoe…making； but they had long and skilful fingers and could make many other useful and ely things。 Their faces were as a rule good…natured rather than beautiful； broad； bright…eyed； red…cheeked； with mouths apt to laughter； and to eating and drinking。 And laugh they did； and eat； and drink； often and heartily； being fond of simple jests at all times； and of six meals a day （when they could get them）。 They were hospitable and delighted in parties； and in presents； which they gave away freely and eagerly accepted。
It is plain indeed that in spite of later estrangement Hobbits are relatives of ours： far nearer to us than Elves； or even than Dwarves。 Of old they spoke the languages of Men； after their own fashion； and liked and disliked much the same things as Men did。 But what exactly our relationship is can no longer be discovered。 The beginning of Hobbits lies far back in the Elder Days that are now lost and forgotten。 Only the Elves still preserve any records of that vanished time； and their traditions are concerned almost entirely with their own history； in which Men appear seldom and Hobbits are not mentioned at all。 Yet it is clear that Hobbits had； in fact； lived quietly in Middle…earth for many long years before other folk became even aware of them。 And the world being after all full of strange creatures beyond count； these little people seemed of very little importance。 But in the days of Bilbo； and of Frodo his heir； they suddenly became； by no wish of their own； both important and renowned； and troubled the counsels of the Wise and the Great。
Those days； the Third Age of Middle…earth； are now long past； and the shape of all lands has been changed； but the regions in which Hobbits then lived were doubtless the same as those in which they still linger： the North…West of the Old World； east of the Sea。 Of their original home the Hobbits in Bilbo's time preserved no knowledge。 A love of learning （other than genealogical lore） was far from general among them； but there remained still a few in the older families who studied their own books； and even gathered reports of old times and distant lands from Elves； Dwarves； and Men。 Their own records began only after the settlement of the Shire； and their most ancient legends hardly looked further back than their Wandering Days。 It is clear； nonetheless； from these legends； and from the evidence of their peculiar words and customs； that like many other folk Hobbits had in the distant past moved westward。 Their earliest tales seem to glimpse a time when they dwelt in the upper vales of Anduin； between the eaves of Greenwood the Great and the Misty Mountains。 Why they later undertook the hard and perilous crossing of the mountains into Eriador is no longer certain。 Their own accounts speak of the multiplying of Men in the land； and of a shadow that fell on the forest； so that it became darkened and its new name was Mirkwood。
Before the crossing of the mountains the Hobbits had already bee divided into three somewhat different breeds： Harfoots； Stoors； and Fallohides。 The Harfoots were browner of skin； smaller； and shorter； and they were beardless and bootless； their hands and feet were neat and nimble； and they preferred highlands and hillsides。 The Stoors were broader； heavier in build； their feet and hands were larger； and they preferred flat lands and riversides。 The Fallohides were fairer of skin and also of hair； and they were taller and slimmer than the others； they were lovers of trees and of woodlands。
The Harfoots had much to do with Dwarves in ancient times； and long lived in the foothills of the mountains。 They moved westward early； and roamed over Eriador as far as Weathertop while the others were still in the Wilderland。 They were the most normal and representative variety of Hobbit； and far the most numerous。 They were the most inclined to settle in one place； and longest preserved their ancestral habit of living in tunnels and holes。
The Stoors lingered long by the banks of the Great River Anduin； and were less shy of Men。 They came west after the Harfoots and followed the course of the Loudwater southwards； and there many of them long dwelt between Tharbad and the borders of Dunland before they moved north again。
The Fallohides； the least numerous； were a northerly branch。 They were more friendly with Elves than the other Hobbits were； and had more skill in language and song than in handicrafts； and of old they preferred hunting to tilling。 They crossed the mountains north of Rivendell and came down the River Hoarwell。 In Eriador they soon mingled with the other kinds that had preceded them； but being somewhat bolder and more adventurous； they were often found as leaders or chieftains among clans of Harfoots or Stoors。 Even in Bilbo's time the strong Fallohidish strain could still be noted among the greater families； such as the Tooks and the Masters of Buckland。
In the westlands of Eriador； between the Misty Mountains and the Mountains of Lune； the Hobbits found both Men and Elves。 Indeed； a remnant still dwelt there of the Dúnedain； the kings of Men that came over the Sea out of Westernesse； but they were dwindling fast and the lands of their North Kingdom were falling far and wide into waste。 There was room and to spare for iners； and ere long the Hobbits began to settle in ordered munities。 Most of their earlier settlements had long disappeared and been forgotten in Bilbo's time； but one of the first to bee important still endured； though reduced in size； this was at Bree and in the Chetwood that lay round about； some forty miles east of the Shire。
It was in these early days； doubtless； that the Hobbits learned their letters and began to write after the manner of the Dúnedain； who had in their turn long before learned the art from the Elves。 And in those days also they forgot whatever languages they had used before； and spoke ever after the mon Speech； the Westron as it was named； that was current through all the lands of the kings from Arnor to Gondor； and about all the coasts of the Sea from Belfalas to Lune。 Yet they kept a few words of their own； as well as their own names of months and days； and a great store of personal names out of the past。
About this time legend among the Hobbits first bees history with a reckoning of years。 For it was in the one thousand six hundred and first year of the Third Age that the Fallohide brothers； Marcho and Blanco； set out from Bree； and having obtained permission from the high king at Fornost1； they crossed the brown river Baranduin with a great following of Hobbits。 They passed over the Bridge of Stonebows； that had been built in the days of the power of the North Kingdom； and they took ail the land beyond to dwell in； between the river and the Far Downs。 All that was demanded of them was that they should keep the Great Bridge in repair； and all other bridges and roads； speed the king's messengers； and acknowledge his lordship。
Thus began the Shire…reckoning； for the year of the crossing of the Brandywine （as the Hobbits turned the name） became Year One of the Shire； and all later dates were reckoned from it。2 At once the western Hobbits fell in love with their new land； and they remained there； and soon passed once more out of the history of Men and of Elves。 While there was still a king they were in name his subjects； but they were； in fact； ruled by their own chieftains and meddled not at all with events in the world outside。 To the last battle at Fornost with the Witch…lord of Angmar they sent some bowmen to the aid of the king； or so they maintained； though no tales of Men record it。 But in that war the North Kingdom ended； and then the Hobbits took the land for their own； and they chose from their own chiefs a Thain to hold the authority of the king that was gone。 There for a thousand years they were little troubled by wars； and they prospered and multiplied after the Dark Plague （S。R。 37） until the disaster of the Long Winter and the famine that followed it。 Many thousands then perished； but the Days of Dearth （1158…60） were at the time of this tale long past and the Hobbits had again bee accustomed to plenty。 The land was rich and kindly； and though it had long been deserted when they entered it； it had 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 Hobbits named it the Shire； as the region of the authority of their Thain； and a district of well…ordered business； and there in that pleasant er of the world they plied their well…ordered business of living； and they heeded less and less the world outside where dark things moved； until they came to think that peace and plenty were the rule in Middle…earth and the right of all sensible folk。 They forgot or ignored what little they had ever known of the Guardians； and of the labours of those that made possible the long peace of the 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 never fought among themselves。 In olden days they had； of course； been often obliged to fight to maintain themselves in a hard world； but in Bilbo's time that was very ancient history。 The last battle； before this story opens； and indeed the only one that had ever been fought within the borders of the Shire； was beyond living memory： the Battle of Greenfields； S。R。 1147； in which Bandobras Took routed an invasion of Orcs。 Even the weathers had grown milder； and the wolves that had once e ravening out of the North in bitter white winters were now only a grandfather's tale。 So； though there was still some store of weapons in the Shire； these were used mostly as trophies； hanging above hearths or on walls； or gathered into the museum at Michel Delving。 The Mathom…house it was called； for anything that Hobbits had no immediate use for； but were unwilling to throw away； they called a mathom。 Their dwellings were apt to bee rather crowded with mathoms； and many of the presents that passed from hand to hand were of that sort。
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 and looked no further than their bellies and their well…fed faces。 Though slow to quarrel； 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 they were keen…eyed and sure at the mark。 Not only with bows and arrows。 If any Hobbit stooped for a stone； it was well to get quickly under cover； as all trespassing beasts knew very well。
All Hobbits had originally lived in holes in the ground； or so they believed； and in such dwellings they still felt most at home； but in the course of time they had been obliged to adopt other forms of abode。 Actually in the Shire in Bilbo's days it was； as a rule； only the richest and the poorest Hobbits that maintained the old custom。 The poorest went on living in burrows of the most primitive kind； mere holes indeed； with only one window or none； while the well…to…do still constructed more luxurious versions of the simple diggings of old。 But suitable sites for these large and ramifying tunnels （or smials as they called them） were not