Note 34 — Chapter IV · THE EARLY SHIPS OF NORTHERN EUROPE.

Tacitus’ “Annals,” ii. 23 and 6. “Mille naves sufficere visæ properatæque, aliæ breves, angusta puppi proraque et lato utero, quo facilius fluctus tolerarent, quædam planæ carinis ut sine noxa siderent: plures adpositis utrimque gubernaculis, converso ut repente remigio hinc vel illinc adpellerent: multæ pontibus stratæ, super quas tormenta veherentur ... velis habiles, citæ remis augebantur alacritate militum in speciem ac terrorem” (ii. 6).

Mr. Henry Furneaux in his edition of the “Annals” (Oxford 1896), commenting on “pontibus,” thinks these formed a partial deck across the midships which would have the appearance of a bridge when viewed from bow or stern.