The Twenty-ninth of August, Year 3005 of the Third Age
In the two and a half years since my last journal I have seen much and learned more in my time in the Southlands. Not only have I seen many sights of wildlife and native plantlife, but I have of late befriended a local village of Haradrim, a chance meeting that I would never have anticipated ere I left my hometown some time ago. Were I to meet the Southrons under different circumstances, I would not have hesitated to kill them where they stood. But their hospitality has shattered any notions I have had of their people from my youth. It is true, they are somewhat of a harsher folk than the Men of the West, but not at all are they savages. I will elaborate further on my first encounter with the Haradrim later in this entry. Firstly, I shall attempt to describe my sights on the south road from Gondor.
As I ventured further south along the Harad road, the lands about me became much less grassy, and the green hills of Gondor gave way to great hills of sand dotted with tall spires of rock. This is not to say that the lands are desolate. Indeed, much plantlife flourished in ways that I had never thought possible. I have come across some few plants of a strange nature, flat and green and covered in sharp needles. In other places I have seen tall trees, starting with one small trunk and quickly branching out into grasping branches, all culminating in a green cloud-like coverage of leaves. The grass that thrives outside of the sandy hills grows tall in a yellowish-green, stretching out for miles in flatter lands.
The wildlife of this land fascinates me just as much. I have seen little foxes with large ears and swift feet, and great grey beasts with horned noses. While I have seen some large elephants roaming the plains, I have yet to see a mûmak in my travels. If the stories I have heard of these great beasts are true, these monsters will tower over any other living thing I have ever seen. Perhaps these creatures dwell farther south. As of this entry, I am in a village some 130 leagues south of Umbar. While I have seen much of the Southlands, the jungles of Far Harad lie far beyond me, if the knowledge of the locals is true.
The hour grows late this night, and I must rest. I will elaborate on my first encounter with the locals of Harad at a later date.
The Second of September, Year 3005 of the Third Age
On the matter of the local men of Harad, I must now tell of how I came across the Southrons and how I learned of their true nature. A little less than one year ago, I had run out of water and was nearly dead of dehydration. Luckily, I had the sense to stay close to the Harad road, and I made my way thither without delay. Upon reaching the road, I continued south for some miles until the heat of the southern sun and my failing hydration caused me to collapse. To this day I thank Eru and all the Valar that I was not eaten by some hungry beast, and for the traveling Haradrim civilians who found me laying helpless along the road. In my condition, I was entirely at their mercy without the means of fighting, and indeed they were merciful enough to bring me back to their village, where I now dwell for the time being, and nursed me back to full health.
During my first days with the Haradrim in full health, I learned much of their true thoughts on their allegiance with Sauron. While some in this village indeed wish me dead, many are only swearing loyalty to Mordor out of obligation, for in the days of old Harad allied itself with Mordor in vengeance against their Númenórean oppressors, and Mordor expects their allegiance to hold lest they too become enemies of Sauron, and in their circumstances they would be without such aid that Gondor would receive from her allies. However, other tribes of Haradrim closer to their allies in Mordor are under the deception that Gondor is the true land of savages in Middle-earth. It seems we of the West are looked upon no better than we look upon our Southron neighbors.
I have picked up some of the local tongue of the Haradrim during my stay in this village. I can now talk briefly with many who would allow for speech with me. The local weaponsmiths and woodcrafters have been courteous enough to provide me with suitable weapons for dealing with the local wildlife during my hunts, with a portion of my game as payment. Indeed, I am quite grateful for their hospitality and goodwill, but I believe soon I must continue south to see at least the jungles of Far Harad before returning home. I shall depart soon when I am ready, and I will write down my findings in the southernmost lands of Harad in my next writing.
