Happenings in Middle-earth During Aldarion's Journey

Galadriel and Celeborn built the chief city, Ost-in-Edhil, in Eregion. This caused great concern to Sauron. News also came to Sauron's ears about the coming of the Númenórean's to Middle-earth and their friendship with Gil-galad. "...he heard tell also of Aldarion, son of Tar-Meneldur the King of Númenor, who brought his vessels to haven far down into the Harad" (p. 236, Unfinished Tales).

Aldarion had travelled along the coasts of Middle-earth and harbored at the Gwathló River to fell trees for their building of ships. There were many native and war-like peoples there who were scattered and leaderless. "They were in awe of the Númenóreans, but they did not become hostile until the tree-felling became devastating. Then they attacked and ambushed the Númenóreans when they could, and the Númenóreans treated them as enemies, and became ruthless in their feelings, giving no thought to husbandry or replanting" (p. 262, Unfinished Tales).

But the Númenóreans only travelled so far inland because a remnant on the Druedain resided in that area and they were called Pukel-men..."a secret and fell people, tireless and silent hunters, using poisoned darts" (p. 383, Unfinished Tales). For they resided on both sides of the White Mountains in the First Age. "When the occupations of the coastlands by the Númenóreans began in the Second Age they survived in the mountains of the promontory [of Andrast] which was never occupied by the Númenóreans. Another remnant survived at the eastern end of the range [in Anorien]" (p. 384, Unfinished Tales). And it was this latter remnant that would survive into the Third Age.

"The devastation wrought by the Númenóreans was incalculable" (p. 263, Unfinished Tales). What was originally known as the Gwathir, the River of Shadow, due to the forest on either side of the banks was now like desert as all the trees were felled. Sauron used this to his advantage stirring up hope in the natives of the land and using them as servants in his future attacks. Later the name of the river was changed to Gwathló known later in Adunaic translation as Agathurush.

Well, there are two sides to every story, yes? We knew from the last post Aldarion brought back timber from Middle-earth on one of his voyages. Although some of what I posted here chronicles later devastation by the Númenóreans its clear the practice was started by Aldarion to the detriment of the land and people of Middle-earth. As Sauron would eventually choose Mordor as his stronghold against the Númenórean landings and stir up the leaderless peoples to his own service. Indeed, our actions can have far reaching implications. 

Middle-earth timeline: Second Age, 800-843

Today's reading comes from: Unfinished Tales, page 236; Unfinished Tales, pages 262-263; Unfinished Tales, pages 383-384; Unfinished Tales, page 263