cted of sculptured masonry,
under which the procession passed.

First came a detachment of cavalry, with a band of military music
preceding a train of priests in their robes, who were followed by a
hecatomb of the whitest oxen with gilded horns entwined with flowers;
next were chariots, laden with the spoils of the vanquished; and after
them, long ranks of chained captives conducted by files of lictors. Then
came the conqueror, clothed in purple and crowned with laurel, having an
ivory sceptre in his hand; a band of children followed dressed in white,
who threw perfumes from silver censors, while they chanted the hymns of
victory and the praises of the conqueror. The march was closed by the
victorious troops, with their weapons wreathed with laurel; the
procession marched to the temple of Jupiter, where the victor descended
and dedicated his spoils to the gods.

When the objects of the war had been obtained by a bloodless victory, a
minor kind of triumph was granted, in which the general appeared on
horseback, dressed in white, and crowned with myrtle, while in his hand
he bore a branch of olive. No other living sacrifice was offered but
sheep, from the name of which the ceremony was called an ovation.

In consequence of the continual depredations to which the coast of Italy
was subject, the Romans commenced the building of a number of vessels,
to establish a fleet, taking for their model a Carthaginian vessel,
which was formerly stranded on their coast.

Their vessels were of two kinds, _naves onerariae_, ships of burden, and
_naves longae_, ships of war: the former served to carry provisions, &c.:
they were almost round, very deep, and impelled by sails.

The ships of war received their name from the number of banks of oars,
one above another, which they contained: thus a ship with three banks of
oars was called _triremis_, one with four, _quadriremis_, &c.; in these,
sails were not used.

CHAPTER XVIII.

_Assemblies, Judicial Proceedings, and Punishments of the Romans._

The assemblies of the whole Roman people, to give their vote on any
subject, were called _comitia_. There were three kinds, the _curiata_,
_centuriata_, and _tributa_.

The _comitia curiata_ were assemblies of the resident Roman citizens,
who were divided into thirty _curiae_, a majority of which determined all
matters of importance that were laid before them, such as the election
of magistrates, the enacting of laws and judging of