71db2ede   
   XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien, alt.fan.tolkien   
   From: liddlelellow@yahoo.com   
      
   On 01/12/10 11:16, JJ wrote:   
      
   > Not really - they were agricultural labourers, accustomed to working   
   > outdoors all their lives, and so were tanned. You have to remember   
   > that the Shire was England several generations ago, when all the   
   > inhabitants were Caucasian; as indeed they were through most of   
   > Tolkien's lifetime.   
      
   eh? there's been a Black (or "Negro and Moorish") presence in Britain   
   since Elizabeth I. and curry houses since the 19th century. surely   
   Tolkien wasn't *that* old?   
      
   tamf   
      
      
      
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