The river flows the wrong way in the Hobbit

[Aule]

In the Hobbit it is said that the Dwarves and Bilbo flow along with the current up the River running to where the Dale men love. This always struck me as odd seeing that this would be getting them closer to the source of the river somewhere near Erebor, surely the current would have taken them the other way towards the Sea of Rhun.
A mistake by Tolkien (Blasphemy i know smilies/tongue.gif) or have i just made a mistake

[Voronwe]

Wrong river, I'm afraid. Bilbo and the dwarves travelled to Esgaroth on the Forest River, which runs into the long lake. A look at one of the maps should hopefully make things clear.

[Aule]

Thanks Voronwe thats cleared it up perfectly. I hadn't seen that on the map before, guess i didn't look close enough.

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Wow that had me scared for a moment! A mistake by our dear ole' Professor himself! smilies/eek.gif smilies/wink.gif

~Menelien

[ April 30, 2003: Message edited by: GaladrieloftheOlden ]