236 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



the ships, stand amid the waves, and encounter the 

 enemy ; whereas they, eitlier on dry ground, or advancing 

 a little way into the water, free in all their limbs, in places 

 thoroughly known to them, could confidently throw 

 their weapons, and spur on their horses, which were 

 accustomed to this kind of service. Dismayed by these 

 circumstances, and altogether untrained in this mode of 

 battle, our men did not all exert the same vigour and 

 eagerness which they had been wont to exert in engage- 

 ments on dry ground But the enemy, who were 



acquainted with all the shallows, when from the shore 

 they saw any coming from a ship one by one, spurred on 

 their horses, and attacked them while embarrassed ; many 

 surrounded a few, others threw their weapons upon our 

 collected forces on their exposed flank ! ' ^ 



Their cavalry and chariots often awed the valorous 

 Romans, and frequently defeated them. They used the 

 ' Essedum,' or war-chariot, much as the Greeks did in the 

 heroic ages ; but this chariot was more ponderous than 

 that of the Greeks, and opened before instead of behind. 

 The wheels were armed with scythes, and the pole was wide 

 and strong, so that the warrior was able, whenever he liked, 

 to run along its top, and even to raise himself upon the 

 yoke, then retreat with the greatest speed into the body of 

 the car, which was driven with extraordinary swiftness and 

 skill. Contrary to the custom with the Greeks, the drivers 

 ranked above their fighting companions. These chariots 

 were much esteemed by the Britons, and were made pur- 

 posely as noisy as possible, so that by creaking and clang- 

 ing of wheels they might strike dismay. 



' Bell. Gall., lib. iv. cap. 34 — 26. 



