HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

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and expeditions were however undertaken without the smallest aid from afleet, if the passage of the Baltic in vessels of the rudest structure be exceptedfrom the general history of their excursions, together with one emigrationwhich took place from Sweden, and proceeding up the Vistula, from thencepassed down the Dnieper, to the borders of the Euxine. The expedition wascontemptible in the extreme, and merits commemoration only as it is so stronglyindicative of the genius and temper of that barbarous people, who first taughtthe power of Rome, when it had reached its zenith, seriously to tremble.

* The Goths were distinguished by three terms, or appellations—Ostrogoths,Visigoths, and Gepidae: the latter distinction was owing entirely to the eventjust mentioned. The spirited and hardy wanderers were so inconsiderable innumber, that all of them embarked for their exploratory voyage on board threevessels, one of which being an heavy sailer, was of necessity left behind, and itsCrew, swelling by degrees into a powerful nation, obtained from thence theappellation (not very honourable it must be confessed) of Gepidae, or loiterers.The first inroad they effected was about the year 250. Deriving strength asthey advanced through the country of the Venedi and the Bastarnae, many ofwhom enlisted voluntarily under the same praedatory banners ; they advancedthrough the Ukraine, Dacia, and Maesia, into Thrace, where the capture ofPhilipolis, the defeat and death of the emperor Decius, surmounted by anignominious peace, purchased by his successor Gallus, on the payment of aheavy, with the promise of a future, tribute, put a temporary period to theirdevastations.

The charms of plunder spread with a rapid influence through the whole ofnorthern Europe. The Goths, and Vandals their eastern neighbours, made onecommon cause, and became as united in pursuit, as they were in intrepidity, inhardiness, and in manners. Having stationed themselves in the Ukraine, theysoon rendered themselves masters of the northern coast of the Euxine, or BlackSea, and with this success acquired an additional incentive to future conquestby the possession of a naval force, which, rude as it certainly was, appearedfully competent to the necessities of this daring people. The description ofthe vessels used at this time for the navigation of the Euxine, is extremelycurious : they were of very light construction, flat bottomed, and formed of tim-ber only, without the smallest addition of iron; they were built with an occasionalshelving roof, to protect the passengers as well as mariners from the fury of anytempest which they might be unfortunate enough to encounter. -In these

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